Upset, need to vent is value still there for DVC?

[dlm1017]

Moderators please move if I have posted in the wrong forum.

I am a DVC member and wanted to get a in a quick getaway just my daughter and I. This winter has felt so long and I just need a break. I went online and looked up airfare, I have Southwest point’s so even though the prices are a bit high (spring break time) I can get flights with roughly 300.00 out of pocket. My annual pass has just expired. I am not going to renew because 1. We had not planned on going back until 2016 and 2. It was a premium pass purchased last year when it was specially priced for DVC members (however we did get 2 trips out of it) SO, (sorry long story longer) I went online to look up park passes with hoppers for us for 3 DAYS and it came out to nearly 700.00!! I was and still am in shock. For us to go for 4 nights and 3 days it will cost me 1,000 not even including any food?? Wow, how did I not see this? I am sad I know it’s not a good use of points but I may consider a Disney cruise instead even with the 95.00 charge it might just be less. I guess since I have not purchased park passes in a few years I am just in a bit of sticker shock. I know I know, I have to figure in the cost of DVC. (Our dues are 1k per year) We truly need to sit down and see if there is still value in it for my family. We have listed our smaller contract (we have 2) because we already feel we need fewer points. We would like to take a trip to Aulani and Hawaii in 2015 and have a trip scheduled to Hilton Head in May. I almost wonder if I should rent my points to cover my dues and sit on them for a bit. Is anyone feeling this way? that the value has decreased since you purchased? I love my DVC but I feel it may be more of an emotional decision to let it go than a practical one?
Sorry vent over, just feeling a bit down. It just maybe the winter blues
Dana

 

[lovin'fl]

I will say that $1K for a 4 night trip isn't all that bad. DH and I did a 4 night cruise (CARNIVAL not Disney...so cheaper) a couple springs ago (last minute and also to get away from winter blues) and we figured about $1K would be good and that's about what we spent. Though your $1K does not include meals (and at WDW meal expenses are also crazy high).

Maybe try to rent your points out for awhile and really mull over if you want to sell. After our last trip (this past Xmas) we thought maybe we too could downsize a bit. My 3 kids are all in HS and not so into WDW anymore (well, so I thought from all the complaining...but it's just DS-17. My twin DDs-15 have been begging to go back so we booked at short mother-daughter trip for Aug). We have done quite a few trips with my inlaws since my SIL owns DVC too (and MIL and FIL pay us to use 100 of our points each year)...Xmas was one such trip and it didn't go well. So we came home pretty down on WDW/DVC and listed one of our contracts...but after a few weeks (and no bites) we took it off the market...and now we are about to add on some more points.

 

[amandaC]

How about a no park trip? Enjoy the pools, downtown Disney, etc.
Or, look into a 10 day no expiration with water park option. That can last you years and may be the most economical solution.

 

[chukdotcom]

I think you are asking the wrong question. The value in owning DVC should be compared to renting DVC or paying cash. The question you are really asking is, "Is DISNEY worth it?".

 

[tjkraz]

Disney parks have always been an expensive destination. Personally I don't see where the value of DVC ownership has changed. It's still a much cheaper way to stay at on-site Disney resorts rather than paying the (even higher) cash prices.

As for whether you still value the Disney resorts in the same way you once did...that's for you to decide.

Ticket prices are heavily weighted toward longer stays. Those 3-day Park Hoppers which cost you $700 could be extended up to 7 days for under $800 and 10 days for about $850. That's been the case for at least 10 years now.

As others suggested, you could easily visit WDW and not buy theme park tickets. Or just buy one-day passes for much less than $700, spending the rest of the time enjoying the resort amenities.

It's a bit difficult to compare a cruise to a theme park visit. Again, without buying theme park tickets you can do a lot of the same things as on the cruise ship: swimming, Community Hall amenities, resort activities like outdoor movies, use WDW transportation (buses, boats, monorail), etc.

The cruise does have the added benefit of including meals...but I suspect a cruise for 2 is going to cost a LOT more DVC points than 3 nights in a Studio. You'll still have to pay for airfare...plus ground transportation, staff gratuities and the $95 booking fee.

Good luck!

 

[chukdotcom]

For myself, there are only 2 ways I buy tickets:

1) Buy a 10 day non expiring. Comes out to around $72 per day. Use them as needed.

2) Buy an annual pass for years when I plan to go to DW in back to back years. If I go in April 2014, and then again in March 2015, it comes out to about $250 per trip.

 

[dvc at last !]

For myself, there are only 2 ways I buy tickets:

1) Buy a 10 day non expiring. Comes out to around $72 per day. Use them as needed.

2) Buy an annual pass for years when I plan to go to DW in back to back years. If I go in April 2014, and then again in March 2015, it comes out to about $250 per trip.

Love your thinking !

 

[disneynutz]

Disney is a for profit business run by finance people. As long as people keep going to Disney, the prices will continue to go up and the benefits and experience go down.

Their goal is to pack the guests in even if it hurts the experience.

Everyone has their breaking point when Disney isn't fun anymore, because of advertising and reputation, as one family leaves, two more will come.

Bill

 

[dlm1017]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I should really rephrase and say "is there really value in DVC for me".. Everyone is different. I like the suggestion of the non expiring park hoppers. We do buy annual passes when we have 2 or more trips planned, that is what happened to me the price of tickets was shocking because I have not purchased tickets in many years. I just don't want to jump off a cliff and sell yet but really need to evaluate how and where we vacation to see if it still makes sense for us

 

[DizBub]

We really needed a getaway this winter and all but 2 of our points for 2014 are already booked for future trips so we rented points.

$900 for 5 nights at SSR. We drove so it cost us gas for a 2300 mile round trip, one night in a motel on the road and what food we ate.

Our APs had expired in Jan but had some days left on a couple of non-expiring tickets but we never set foot into a park. It was just so nice to get out of the snow and cold for the week. Just hung out at the resort, DTD and went out to eat.....we considered this an excellent value.

 

[k3chantal]

Moderators please move if I have posted in the wrong forum.

I am a DVC member and wanted to get a in a quick getaway just my daughter and I. This winter has felt so long and I just need a break. I went online and looked up airfare, I have Southwest point’s so even though the prices are a bit high (spring break time) I can get flights with roughly 300.00 out of pocket. My annual pass has just expired. I am not going to renew because 1. We had not planned on going back until 2016 and 2. It was a premium pass purchased last year when it was specially priced for DVC members (however we did get 2 trips out of it) SO, (sorry long story longer) I went online to look up park passes with hoppers for us for 3 DAYS and it came out to nearly 700.00!! I was and still am in shock. For us to go for 4 nights and 3 days it will cost me 1,000 not even including any food?? Wow, how did I not see this? I am sad I know it’s not a good use of points but I may consider a Disney cruise instead even with the 95.00 charge it might just be less. I guess since I have not purchased park passes in a few years I am just in a bit of sticker shock. I know I know, I have to figure in the cost of DVC. (Our dues are 1k per year) We truly need to sit down and see if there is still value in it for my family. We have listed our smaller contract (we have 2) because we already feel we need fewer points. We would like to take a trip to Aulani and Hawaii in 2015 and have a trip scheduled to Hilton Head in May. I almost wonder if I should rent my points to cover my dues and sit on them for a bit. Is anyone feeling this way? that the value has decreased since you purchased? I love my DVC but I feel it may be more of an emotional decision to let it go than a practical one?
Sorry vent over, just feeling a bit down. It just maybe the winter blues
Dana

I think Disney is just really expensive or really any vacation where a theme park is involved. We just got back from a fantastic vacation but it was REALLY expensive. Airfare was covered because of points though.But because we wanted early admittance into Islands of Adventure, we stayed onsite at Universal Studio's Hard Rock Hotel. Price $750.00 for 3 nights. Five tickets to Universal Studios: 3 tickets for two days and 2 for one day= $600.00 Took youngest child to Magic Kingdom for 1 day= $200.00

So far I haven't mentioned food for five or travel by car for five and since I haven't added that up let's say that was around $600.00. My lunch for two at Be Our Guest was over $30.00. Then we went on a 7 night cruise on the Disney Fantasy paid for by our DVC points (and this is why I post since you are pondering this use) We used 550 points to sail. (and to those who would tell me that I could have rented my points, I am well aware, I wanted one less step; perfectly happy with what I received for my 500+ point usage) but to the OP, my onboard account bill was a whooping $3500.00. And yes, we had an absolute blast!
We then went to the Kennedy Space center and it took another $250.00 to enter there.

No regrets at all; it was a magical experience. My point is that traveling is no longer cheap. Since I live in California, I use to take my kids to Disneyland 'just for the weekend' and live it up for under $600.00 with everything included; can't anymore. Between the ticket and food price increase, the increase in my own family size, well there are no quick vacations anywhere.

I still think you should hold onto your DVC points though. For larger trips using larger accommodations like the 1 bedroom or up, I don't think at this point you can do better since it sounds as if you just pay for the maintenance fee each year. Good luck with your decision!

 

[jillgunter]

I agree with the other poster, can you do just a relaxing no parks trip? We never get to see much of the resort since we are at the parks all day. Maybe just a one day ticket for MK if you really want a park day. Prices just went up on tickets I know the tickets are pricey, we plan to buy the pass deal they have right now for our upcoming trip. Park tickets are a much better deal the longer you stay. After 4th day they are like less then $10 a ticket. I forget exact amount, and I havent checked since price increase

*our last trip before we bought DVC 8 nights at WL, park tickets and free dining was over $4K. So either way you go its not cheap!

 

[dbs1228]

I miss the days when we used to buy the 10 day non expire PH passes. The kids were younger and we got 3 years out of them. At the time they were approx 400.00 per pass and as I said lasted for 3 years - 10 day vacations! We would go to each park one day (before AK) and the rest of the time we would rent golf carts at Ft. Wilderness, rent bikes for the day, walk the trails, swim, ride the monorail to all the resorts getting off at all stops and browse through the shops, boats to Wilderness lodge, take a bus to the BW again browse the resort and shops, rent the speed boats on bay lake, play mini golf, go to the outlet mall and take a ride over to AK (once it was opened) and check out the animals. There is so much to do without even stepping into the parks especially for a short stay. I miss the down days - with my adult DD's it is hard to justify the price of the non expire tickets since they like to go to the parks most days. I prefer 1 day park 2 days resort!

 

[DizBub]

I miss the days when we used to buy the 10 day non expire PH passes. The kids were younger and we got 3 years out of them. At the time they were approx 400.00 per pass and as I said lasted for 3 years - 10 day vacations! We would go to each park one day (before AK) and the rest of the time we would rent golf carts at Ft. Wilderness, rent bikes for the day, walk the trails, swim, ride the monorail to all the resorts getting off at all stops and browse through the shops, boats to Wilderness lodge, take a bus to the BW again browse the resort and shops, rent the speed boats on bay lake, play mini golf, go to the outlet mall and take a ride over to AK (once it was opened) and check out the animals. There is so much to do without even stepping into the parks especially for a short stay. I miss the down days - with my adult DD's it is hard to justify the price of the non expire tickets since they like to go to the parks most days. I prefer 1 day park 2 days resort!

Now THAT'S the way to vacation.

 

[Dean]

Moderators please move if I have posted in the wrong forum. I am a DVC member and wanted to get a in a quick getaway just my daughter and I. This winter has felt so long and I just need a break. I went online and looked up airfare, I have Southwest point’s so even though the prices are a bit high (spring break time) I can get flights with roughly 300.00 out of pocket. My annual pass has just expired. I am not going to renew because 1. We had not planned on going back until 2016 and 2. It was a premium pass purchased last year when it was specially priced for DVC members (however we did get 2 trips out of it) SO, (sorry long story longer) I went online to look up park passes with hoppers for us for 3 DAYS and it came out to nearly 700.00!! I was and still am in shock. For us to go for 4 nights and 3 days it will cost me 1,000 not even including any food?? Wow, how did I not see this? I am sad I know it’s not a good use of points but I may consider a Disney cruise instead even with the 95.00 charge it might just be less. I guess since I have not purchased park passes in a few years I am just in a bit of sticker shock. I know I know, I have to figure in the cost of DVC. (Our dues are 1k per year) We truly need to sit down and see if there is still value in it for my family. We have listed our smaller contract (we have 2) because we already feel we need fewer points. We would like to take a trip to Aulani and Hawaii in 2015 and have a trip scheduled to Hilton Head in May. I almost wonder if I should rent my points to cover my dues and sit on them for a bit. Is anyone feeling this way? that the value has decreased since you purchased? I love my DVC but I feel it may be more of an emotional decision to let it go than a practical one? Sorry vent over, just feeling a bit down. It just maybe the winter blues Dana

While the numbers may have shifted slightly, the principles haven't changed in the 20 years we've owned. Disney is simply expensive, sometimes less so or more so depending but at the end of the day it's ALWAYS been expensive. Whether it is, or ever was, a value for your situation I don't think we can speak to. What I feel comfortable in saying is that it isn't for many and truthfully isn't for many that think it is. On top of that DVC rarely truly saves money though it might add value for around the same cost. I think we'd all agree that a studio is better than a moderate hotel room and that the larger units are better still.

I think you are asking the wrong question. The value in owning DVC should be compared to renting DVC or paying cash. The question you are really asking is, "Is DISNEY worth it?".

I see more components including is Disney worth it AND is on property worth it, IMO, in that order.

For myself, there are only 2 ways I buy tickets: 1) Buy a 10 day non expiring. Comes out to around $72 per day. Use them as needed. 2) Buy an annual pass for years when I plan to go to DW in back to back years. If I go in April 2014, and then again in March 2015, it comes out to about $250 per trip.

We are FL residents so we are often using special tickets or Seasonal Passes. However, given the current price of a non expiring ticket, it's often not worth it UNLESS you also include the water park and more options as well on say a 10 day ticket. Often getting shorter expiring passes is the cheaper option unless you're just using a day here and there rather than a few days together per trip.

 

[chukdotcom]

We are FL residents so we are often using special tickets or Seasonal Passes. However, given the current price of a non expiring ticket, it's often not worth it UNLESS you also include the water park and more options as well on say a 10 day ticket. Often getting shorter non expiring passes is the cheaper option unless you're just using a day here and there rather than a few days together per trip.

Did you mean expiring? If not, I'm not sure how shorter non-expiring could be cheaper unless you couldn't eventually use all 10 days. At $75 a day for a non expiring park hopper, it would be $225 for a trip with 3 park days. A 3 day expiring would be $350. At 5 days, the 5 day expiring barely comes out ahead ($366 vs $375). Generally, I only do weeklong trips in years where I plan on coming back within 12 months and get an AP. I do the 3 park-day trips in years where I won't have an AP. So, in short:

annual pass years = 2 park trips = $250 per trip.
Non AP years = use 10 day non expiring for 3 days = $225 per trip

Note, none of this factors in FL resident discounts. That may sway things differently.

 

[Dean]

Did you mean expiring? If not, I'm not sure how shorter non-expiring could be cheaper unless you couldn't eventually use all 10 days. At $75 a day for a non expiring park hopper, it would be $225 for a trip with 3 park days. A 3 day expiring would be $350. At 5 days, the 5 day expiring barely comes out ahead ($366 vs $375). Generally, I only do weeklong trips in years where I plan on coming back within 12 months and get an AP. I do the 3 park-day trips in years where I won't have an AP. So, in short: annual pass years = 2 park trips = $250 per trip. Non AP years = use 10 day non expiring for 3 days = $225 per trip Note, none of this factors in FL resident discounts. That may sway things differently.

yes expiring tickets. Sorry.

 

[chukdotcom]

yes expiring tickets. Sorry.

But even then, expiring tickets only break even at day 5, right? Anything less than 5 days and you are better off with 10 day non's.

 

[chukdotcom]

Also, one benefit to the expiring tickets is going to the park guilt-free on travel days. If I'm going for 5 days, the first and last are travel days and 3 days in between are park days. If I travel in the AM there and PM back home, those could be 1/2 park days. I hate to waste a non expiring on those, so getting a 5 day expiring might be better because I can go the first and last day with less guilt.

 

[jodifla]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I should really rephrase and say "is there really value in DVC for me".. Everyone is different. I like the suggestion of the non expiring park hoppers. We do buy annual passes when we have 2 or more trips planned, that is what happened to me the price of tickets was shocking because I have not purchased tickets in many years. I just don't want to jump off a cliff and sell yet but really need to evaluate how and where we vacation to see if it still makes sense for us

I hear you. Ticket prices have gone through the roof.

So this year, we booked a 3 night Disney cruise on points (had points we didn't use last year) and while we using our DVC points for OKW and AK before and after, we are planning to go to Universal and a water park, skipping the Disney parks.