UK DVC owners please help

[carolfoy]

OK - here we go (sorry this may take some time)
Am seriously thinking about buying DVC need some questions answered
After the initial outlay what sort of costs do you incur?
I mean, I know there is always you flight to get there but what sort of charges do they make for annual maintainance?
Are there hefty legal charges involved?
can you swap your week easily and does this incur extra charges?
how do you calculate an extra week charge as a holiday extra not a complete add on?
Just for a scenario was thinking about OKW for last week of october, is it a lot extra to sometimes upgrade to a 2 bedroom? just in case friends decided to join us.
Is it a low pressure sale if I decided to just go and have a look when I go to WDW in Nov or will I be forced into making a decision straightaway?
Please help

 

[Bexx]

Okay - is a good FAQto give you the basics.

And here is Caskbill's DVC planner to download if you want to. You can use it to work out how many points you would need to stay at the resort and size of accomodation of your choice.

You're not locked into any one week - it's totally flexible. Easy to upgrade accomodation if you have the points and the villas are available!

You can buy Saratoga Springs direct from Disney. No pressure sales and very easy to sort out and no extra costs involved.

All other resorts available through timeshare brokers - usually cheaper per point, even after adding on closing costs (though not sure how much they are - something like $300) Not quite as easy peasy as buying from Disney, but certainly not difficult!!

A bit of advice - the use year is worth considering. Think about the time of year you are most likely to visit, and try to get a use year that starts a bit before that. Will try to explain further if necessary!!!

HTH

 

[gilld]

We have 270 points at BCV and our annual dues are around the £650 mark. I agree with Bexx, ask about the use year, we have Oct but as we usually go in Sept that isn't a good month for us.

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks guys, will try and work my way thru' that lot. Knew you'd all help! Do you still love being DVC owners? does it still make you smile even though you know exactly what to expect?

 

[carolfoy]

Sorry, forgot to ask do I need to make a reservation to talk to someone at disney about buying or can I ask at concierge?

 

[Bexx]

It took me three years to get to see my home resort of OKW - and I loved every minute of the planning! Used my points for DLP (before it got ridiculous) and rented some out. But staying in an OKW 2 bedroom was, or course, the icing on the cake - they're wonderful! I'm very, very happy with my purchase!!

Sorry, forgot to ask do I need to make a reservation to talk to someone at disney about buying or can I ask at concierge?

I think you just go up to the special desk in any Disney resort or the numerous ones in the park and talk to the person there about arranging a DVC tour. At the moment the slogan is something about "Disney's best kept secret"!!

 

[Hilary]

Just a word of caution You're unlikely to hear anything very negative from any of us here because we all love our DVC!

Seriously, of course DVC isn't necessarily for everyone, but for those who post on this board the overwhelming opinion seems to be that we all wish we'd joined sooner! I guess that makes the answer to your question

Do you still love being DVC owners? does it still make you smile even though you know exactly what to expect?

a resounding YES!

We didn't take the DVC tour at WDW but did all our research on line and on the phone with our DVC guide after we'd requested the promotional pack to find out as much as we could. We dealt with Disney and it really couldn't have been simpler.

The flexibility already mentioned is what swung it for us - I don't think we'd have been tempted to buy a more 'traditional' one-week-one-unit kind of timeshare. We've used our points for VWL, OKW, BWV and will be staying at SSR this summer. We've stayed in a studio, a two-bedroom and a Grand Villa so far. I'm looking forward to eventually trying all the resorts and all sizes of accommodation!

Although you don't need to make an appointment to take the tour, it might be an idea for you to phone and ask for the literature to be sent to you before you head out to WDW so that you can read all the background stuff in advance.

 

[TinkTatoo]

I also agree about the use year - we tend to go in August and our use year is June which works out really well for us.

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks Hilary, do you have a number/email where I can get the info up front?

 

[Miffy2003]

I still smile Carol

Just be aware that I have found that the cost of fly drives is hardly any less than the package deals I booked before, LOL.

If you go the the main Disney website there is a link to DVC where you can ask for someone to contact you to discuss it