Trying to decide if we should buy...

[ILuvMulan]

I guess I just want to confirm that my thinking is correct. We are a family of five. Right now our three kids are small enough to stay in one room (last year we were at Port Orleans- Riverside). However, by our next visit I think we will either have to get 2 rooms or a suite. In the long run will I be saving money by buying DVC. Anyone else have more than 2 children and can share your experience?

 

[AlexTina]

We have 3 also and are in the same position as you. We stayed in a standard room at WL this past May and it was fine although a little cramped. However, we know that per Disney's rules we will have to start either renting DVC accomodations, stay deluxe other than WL or AKL (they only allow 4 to a room unless you have one 2 or under) or stay offsite (not an option) so we decided to buy in. We only bought 160 points for now which will hold us for a few years. Then as we can afford it will will add on. Would like to have between 250 - 300 in the end. BTW our kids are 7, 3.5, and 2.

Tina

 

[javamom]

We are a family of 5 as well. We stayed at Riverside in 06, and decided to buy DVC about 7 months later. Our last trip was to the Boradwalk Villas and we LOVED our space. It made such a big difference, and for a much more relaxing experience overall. No regrets!

 

[Jaaron2]

We also are a family of 5 and stayed at POR twice previously. Our kids are now 12,10 and 8 and we bought into DVC about 18 months ago. It was definately worth while for us. We initially bought into AKV because studios could hold 5 and the longer years. Our first DVC trip was at SSR and we stayed in a two bedroom....we can now never go back Once we had all that extra space it would be hard to go back. My wife and I stayed in a studio when the two of us went to BCV in March, that was fine for us but couldnt do it with the kids anymore.

We bought our first purchase with cash. Since then we have added on 100 pts at BCV (financed) and 50, 25 and 25 pts and paid cash for them. As lond as you dont finance a large portion I think DVC is a great deal. We now have 400 pts

 

[jerseygal]

From the Dream Book, for example, a 2 BR BCV for Dream Season is 34 Points/night from Sun-Thurs...That is 170 points for 5 nights...The chart says 2008/2009....Were the points there the same for a 2 BR for the last 3/5 yrs?
Can the points ever increase????????????? Another words, if someone intially purchases 175 points now, that appears it will be enough for 5 night Sun-Thurs 2 BR villa Dream Season...Will that 175 points ALWAYS STAY THE SAME?????

I was told that obviously the Dues increase, but there is a Florida law governing no more than 15% annual increase in dues..........

Thank you very much for any clarification!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[javamom]

The total number of points cannot increase. If they raise the points required for a particular stay (and they do for things like Easter etc..) then they have to lower the points elsewhere on the chart.

So, in short, your 175 points will not suddenly become "not enough" for the stays that you are used to booking.

 

[lah3hh]

We only have one daughter but often have her bring a friend or two since as she has grown it makes trips more fun for everyone. I can not even imagine having to go back to a simple hotel style room. We would feel so cramped and buying DVC has allowed us to get spoiled.

To answer the other question on this post....the total points for the entire DVC resort can not change. So in other words if you add up the entire points on the page for SSR for example...every season, every room type that total can not change. DVC management has the ability to change the dates they qualify in each category and even the number of points but then points would have to be reduced somewhere else. I have been a member for 10 years and I think they have remained stable and DVC has not chosen to increase them other than move the dates of the seasons.

Hope that helps to explain....at least I tried!

 

[ILuvMulan]

Thank you all! That really helps. We had a wonderful stay at Riverside, and Disney even bumped us up to two rooms (complimentary) because our son is disabled. But we know we can not depend on that happening every time and if we had just been in one room it would have been cramped. Our kids are 9,9, and 10.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I bought DVC when my 3rd child turned 3 and became a real person in the eyes of the mouse. It made perfect sense for us at that time. No regrets.