Trying to make a decision....

[lflynn]

OK i have been debating buying DVC for three years. Can i ask some questions:

1. When can i book the hotels? how far in advance?
2. When figuring the points i need for a cruise i am coming up 16 short. What happens? Can i pay cash for the difference?
3. Is there any tax deduction?

thanks. this is a tough decision. we normally stay at the hotels and i just don't know if it is worth it for us.

 

[DebbieB]

1. You can reserve your home DVC resort at 11 months, other DVC resorts at 7 months. If by "hotels" you mean non-DVC, those can be reserved at 11 months but be aware that there is a $95 fee starting in 2008.

2. You can borrow from your following use year. If you don't have enough for that, you can pay cash for 1 person. You could also transfer points from another member.

3. You can deduct the property tax portion of the dues.

 

[lflynn]

You mean if i wnt to stay in a hotel i have to pay points and $95?

 

[lflynn]

I mean Disney hotel properties. I would want to use my points to stay at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian or Contemporary.

 

[browniemtb]

1. When can i book the hotels? how far in advance?:

At your home resort up to 11 months out and all other resorts you can start booking 7 months out. Exchanges out of the system have different rules.

2. When figuring the points i need for a cruise i am coming up 16 short. What happens? Can i pay cash for the difference?

You can borrow from the next year, you can have some tranferred in your account from another member or you could pay the balance in cash. Cruising on point, to some, is not the best use of them. Some will rent there points and use the cash for the cruise.

3. Is there any tax deduction?

You would have to ask you tax person. But most will deduct the real estate tax portion of the dues that are paid yearly. DVC breaks this down so you know where all the fees go.

It can be a hard decision, one that took us many years. But ask yourself these questions....

Is it affordable now to buy in?
Will you be traveling to WDW at least once a year?
When you do go to WDW, do you tend to stay in Deluxe accomodations?

If you answered yes to the above, DVC may be for you.

DVC is an expensive timeshare, but worth it for us. Basically you are prepaying for vacations at WDW at todays prices. Break even, where it begins paying for itself is between 6 to 8 trips to WDW. Good Luck....make sure you ask lots of questions on the DIS, its here that you will learn the ins and out of DVC...

Brownie

 

[browniemtb]

I mean Disney hotel properties. I would want to use my points to stay at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian or Contemporary.

Points for these resorts would not be a good use......DVC has properties on site....Beach Club, Boardwalk, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Wilderness Lodge, or Animal Kingdom.....Contemporary is still a mystery, there is buidling going on but no one is sure if its DVC or not.

Just an example....it may take 24 points to stay one night at the Beach Club but it could take 50 points a night to stay at the Grand Floridian..

The best use of points is with the DVC program..

Brownie

 

[DebbieB]

You mean if i wnt to stay in a hotel i have to pay points and $95?

I mean Disney hotel properties. I would want to use my points to stay at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian or Contemporary.

Yes, $95 fee for non-DVC resorts starting 1/2/08, plus the point charge. I would not buy DVC with the intention of staying at non-DVC.

DVC is best for staying at the DVC resorts (Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, etc), there is no fee for those and the number of points needed is less.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I agree with the others; the best use of DVC points will be to stay at the DVC resorts!