Trying to decide - do you use other hotels often?

[Picabo]

We are debating on joining DVC or not. (Also researching Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton) We have 2 YOUNG children...19mos and 2mos right now. We live in VA and I don't envisiion us FLYING to Florida each year. I figure between annual fees, airfare, admission to parks, food, etc...we could easily spend another $2-3k each year for a week at Disney which is NOT in our annual budget for vacations.)

So I'm thinking that we would most likely go to Disney every 2-3 yrs and inbetween would probably drive to Hilton Head or even go out of the Disney network for a beach property OR just bank points for a year.

So questions are:

How often do you go to a non-disney hotel through II (or RCI..forgot who they use) and how difficult is it to book an outside hotel?

Does the home property you choose have ANY effect on how you trade if you do use an outside hotel other than Disney? (Say if we want to go to the Caribbean or Hawaii one day)

Does it REALLY matter what home property you choose? (Seems as if I can book at any disney property and it seems like it is relatively easy to book...shouldnt' I just go for what's least expensive to buy into?)

Thanks for your help!

Melanie

 

[jimh13432]

With the ages of your children, you'll be "Hooked on Disney". A trip to WDW or HHI every two to three years is very do-able via DVC.

We are also from Virginia and the drive isn't bad at all. We've never traded to a non-DVC resort and doubt we ever will.

Cheers!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Odd there were so few posts to this question...guess its because of labor day. The most cost effective use of DVC points is at a DVC resort. AND...you need to buy where you want to stay.

Given those two cliches it seems that you would be in the market for a small Hilton Head resale. The reason is because Hilton Head is difficult to get into during the seasons most people would want to go (spring and summer). You would need the 11 month window unless you were planning on going during the fall hurricane season or during the winter.

If that doesn't float your boat maybe you should consider looking into a different timeshare via resale. These can be had for next to nothing although you need to carefully research where the best deal can be had. The best deal would be one you can afford and that is in the season and location where you want to use it AND that has good trading value...visiting www.tug2.net would be an excellent place to start finding out about these things. The one location I would not pick is Orlando for your non-Disney timeshare.

Trading DVC for II units is pretty much a bad deal for DVC'ers. You could buy a substantially cheaper timeshare and use that for trading purposes much more effectively. I would do that and stick the money I save in the bank or some other investment and use it to do my every 2 or 3 year visit to Disney. This would give me the advantage of jumping on whatever deal Disney or AAA has going as well as the easy ability to stay in any resort I can afford. Plus you could easily choose to stay in an offsite timeshare instead of Disney.

Your final alternative would be to buy a small resale at one of the onsite DVC's...one that would give you enough points to visit in a one bedroom every two or three years. OKW would be best on a points basis. I wouldn't look for any points to spare to go to Hilton Head.

Oops sorry that's not your final alternative. Your final alternative is the rent trade board.

 

[DrChuck23]

A small DVC membership (80-120pts) would be enough for a nice trip every 2-3 years.
I've heard great things about the Marriott and Starwood programs if you plan on mostly doing non-Disney trips. So far I've found the non-Disney trips through DVC to be difficult unless you're willing to travel off season (tough for ski trips).

 

[jimmylo]

We bought a platinum Marriott resale for $7,000 in Williamsburg. My maintenance fees are $600 and if I go to the home resort I get 7 rounds of golf included.

I trade it every year succesfully to go to Hilton Head beach front Marriotts in the summer. Because I have a platinum high trader, II gives me a bonus week every year where I can book an available week for $200 studio, $300 2 bedroom. I just was able to pull a Disney Saratoga Springs studio for EASTER WEEK for $200 for the whole week (plus disney $95 resort week)

For my low price marriott i get to disney and to hilton head.

Just a thought.

 

[crisi]

We use our DVC points at DVC every other year because that's where we feel we get the best value.

In other years we take non-Disney vacations on cash.

By the way, we are a family of four and spend TWICE what you are talking about EASILY every other year on Disney vacations. Our dues bill alone on our rather minimal contract (150 points) is $700. Add airfare, park tickets and - we overspend on food but even if we didn't - these are not cheap vacations and DVC doesn't necessarily make them any more affordable. (If your kids are girls, wait until you drop $500 on Princess dresses, accessories and Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.)

 

[JimC]

We own both -- DVC and Marriott. MVCI is great for the non-Disney holidays we take. MVCI is a high quality program, floating season, week based.

If you want to go to Disney every other year buy one-half the points you need for your vacation and bank from year to year to use them.

DVC is at its best when you use the points at DVC resorts. Trading out almost always is going to be more expensive than necessary to see the rest of the world.