Vacation Home VS DVC.....

[Karrie Davis]

Well, I have been kicking around joining DVC for a while. I may join today or tomorrow...

We stayed at OKW in a 1 bedroom this past NOV and loved how laid back it was. We rented a car so we could do what we want and it was the best Disney trip ever.

We can afford DVC BUT.... I have a hard time parting with money But we go at least 1 time every year for a week and a half.

If there is a way to save money and have just as nice of a vacation I want to know about it. I sure don't want to ever stay at a normal hotel room again!

What I like about DVC is the space, the closeness to the parks, the relaxing vacation feel. I did ride the bus downtown one night by myself so that was nice but it was 1 time in 10 days...

So, what about a villa or a town house? Give me your thought

 

[spiceycat]

lots of the villa or townhomes are much cheaper to rent than a DVC would be.

just remember no DME, DDP, EMH, since the WDW transportation didn't mean anything to you - won't mention it.

 

[Karrie Davis]

Thanks The cost is not the real issue; it is more like the cost vs what we would enjoy the most. I don't mind paying for what will give us the perfect vacation but I wonder if a villa and the savings could be as nice or maybe better then on site...... if that makes any sense

I should say, we like to eat Breakfast in our room, lunch in the parks and most dinners at off park restaurants. We always plan about 2 nice Disney dinners for each trip and 1 character breakfast.

I avoid EMH but at the same time I may not like missing them either - hum....

We did DDP one year but that was because it was free, I don't think it is worth it because we like to go off site for dinner


I have never stayed off site so I have no idea. I am worried I would miss that vacation feel even if it was a relaxed vacation feel that I have staying on site.

 

[spiceycat]

sometimes it is easier to relax offsite than on.

you get more privacy, a bigger space, more stuff - your room may have a whirlpool tub - that at Disney, even DVC is way expensive.

I won't suggest buying offsite.

but definitely go rent some units.

the problem with buying offsite - is that most people want to stay onsite. So onsite even DVC is generally easier to rent.

that is one reason why the prices are so low offsite. the demand is just not there for offsite houses, condos, villa - YET!

many people go to Disney to escape the real world. that means no driving, almost no thinking, and that means onsite.

you can get a house for the same price as a moderate and in some seasons a value resort onsite.

 

[eliza61]

Thanks The cost is not the real issue; it is more like the cost vs what we would enjoy the most. I don't mind paying for what will give us the perfect vacation but I wonder if a villa and the savings could be as nice or maybe better then on site...... if that makes any sense

I should say, we like to eat Breakfast in our room, lunch in the parks and most dinners at off park restaurants. We always plan about 2 nice Disney dinners for each trip and 1 character breakfast.

I avoid EMH but at the same time I may not like missing them either - hum....

We did DDP one year but that was because it was free, I don't think it is worth it because we like to go off site for dinner


I have never stayed off site so I have no idea. I am worried I would miss that vacation feel even if it was a relaxed vacation feel that I have staying on site.

I'm with Spicey cat. if money is not the issue, try staying offsite just to get a comparison, especially since your have a few concerns.

We tried off site 1 time before we purchased and it wasn't for us. It was very lovely but my preference would be on site. Like you we always rent a car so we eat off site a time or two.

The more information you gather, the more satifisied you'll feel with your final decision.
Good luck.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yep, I'd test-drive an offsite rental to see if it works for you, and then decide. Two options to consider:

* Windsor Hills is probably the closest "private home" subdivision to the parks, and is quite nice. We've stayed there in the past two years, and really enjoyed it.

* Wyndham Bonnet Creek is among the closest timeshare propreties to the parks, and one of the newest. It's landlocked by Disney; it's entrance is just past CBR. We recently bought into the Wyndham system, resale, for about 10% of what an equivalent DVC package would have cost.

 

[Karrie Davis]

I am feeling some pressure to buy DVC right now because my sales person said this is such a great time to buy since I can get dec 06 points now.... He is not a pressure sales person at all it is more me thinking I don't want to miss out on something.

I also have seen the prices go up in the last year and a half while thinking about DVC.

I believe I will buy DVC, I just don't want to rush or postpone at the wrong time - maybe I am going n uts I want to buy now to get the points but I have not gotten that all is OK do it feeling I normally wait for before putting up so much money...................

I would like to try to stay at a story time townhouse - It just wont be untill the fall. we are not good with the heat and humitity combo. Is it worth waiting that long to make up my mind on DVC?

Question - If I get a seson pass, will it be a card so that I don't have to use paper tickets? Are paper tickets that bad?

 

[spiceycat]

I am feeling some pressure to buy DVC right now because my sales person said this is such a great time to buy since I can get dec 06 points now.... He is a pressure sales person at all it is more me thinking I don't want to miss out on something.

Disney and DVC don't like pressure sales person. Please complaint to the 1-800 number not his.

they are not surpose to make you feel like to have to buy period - much rather RIGHT NOW.

that is not what DVC is about.

 

[Karrie Davis]

opps - I meant to say he is not a pressure sales person - I am really the one giving myself the pressure - sorry about that

It is just hard passing up points.... I can only buy 210 any way so when I think I can do 2 trips next year it makes me want to just join. But I am not sure I am totally ready even if I know I plan to eventually.

 

[UKDEB]

We like the best of both worlds. We bought 180 DVC points last October, but we'll continue to mix several nights onsite with a stay in a villa (Reunion is our location of choice at the moment). We're from the UK and tend to vist for 2-3 weeks at a time (and, on average, twice a year), so our considerations may be different.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

We have stayed both on site and off site in the past and yes being on site is lovely with all the extras but it was still only a small unit or hotel room! Once we stayed in a private villa that is all that would interest us now with two kids it just gives us that extra space needed.

Give it a go and rent a townhome/condo and then finish off with a few nights at one of the WDW hotels

 

[mbb]

We do both - DVC and villa vacations.

We used to own BCV points, and sold them
(small point contract, offered a "couldn't turn it down" scenario)

Anyway!
Have a look at the Rent/Trade Board, then have a read on www.tug2.net , and let us know what you decide

Have fun!!

 

[Lisa BC]

We are staying offsite this November, for the first time in a long time, with a group of 9 adults. For our last long trip in November 2005, we rented points and stayed at OKW...and we loved the atmosphere at OKW... relatively quiet and peaceful (a big contrast to many of the WDW hotels). But because of the dates for this trip, and the larger group, we were going to have to rent two 2 bedroom condos for the week (with Friday & Saturday night stays).... ouch... way too many points. It was also difficult to find one or two owners with that many points available for rent. So, we bit the bullet, and decided to stay offsite. We weren't willing to cram into hotel rooms.


We are renting a very lovely 7 bed / 6 bath home with a huge pool and jacuzzi for just a little more than half of what it would have cost us to stay onsite. We are getting really upgraded mattresses & bedding, a full gourmet kitchen, a game room with a pool table & full size air hockey table, and home theater system. (And video game boxes too). We can't wait, and we are now wondering if we'll have a hard time leaving the house! lol

Here's why we don't mind staying offsite:

1. We like to bring our own toiletries.
We brought our own to Disney too, since most of us have sensitive skin.

2. We never used EMH.
We almost always travel in the late fall, so we never need to take advantage of the EMH days to see all that we want to see. We use TourGuideMike, and never have to wait for much of anything.

3. We don't like waiting for the buses at the end of the day.
Because we hated waiting for the buses at the end of the day on our last trip, we planned on renting cars anyway - so there's no need for DME.

4. We like the idea of our own private pool & hot tub in our back yard... screened in.
No fighting for pool chairs, we can use whatever floaties we want, the pool will be warm, and the fridge will be just steps away. I can't wait to jump in the hot tub at the end of a long day... which is something we never did at OKW, because no one wanted to walk more than 10 feet away from the sofa.

In the end we won't really miss staying onsite. We are saving money, allowing us to do more extravagant meals and extras like MVMCP & Cirque ( and rent multiple cars for our big group).

So if it was me, I wouldn't worry about using Dec '06 points. You'll save enough that you'll be able to afford two offsite stays anyway. Try an offsite stay before you buy. You might as well make the most informed decision that you can make, in the end that's always creates the most value for your money.

Good luck!

Lisa

 

[Dreaming WDW]

Quite honestly for me. I use other peoples money, and save my own.

It means I get top amenities by renting each year. For little outlay, I continue to feed my retirement investments. Then in the future, I will pay cash for what suites me. It will not be a rental but a true retirement home that I will live and die in. At the moment, Orlando has a surplus of properties, and now is cheap to take advantage of the offerings by renting or buying with cash.

If money is not a factor, and you do enjoy the DVC advantages, then by all means pursue the best deal on an owenrship and enjoy the experience.

When I leave WDW, I do not worry about expenses of any other than those which I created on my part.

 

[HeatherC]

I you do buy DVC....remember that Friday and Sat. night points are ALOT more than the rest of the week. Unless you want to wind up doing split stays every year, make sure you buy enough points to cover a week and a half.

Also...check out the TUG board and think about buying resale...whether you buy DVC or another timeshare. You will save ALOT of money.

And...don't forget the yearly maintenance fees. People sometimes say their vacations are prepaid when they buy DVC or any other timeshare. But...many times you can rent a gorgeous villa for a lot less than many people pay for their yearly maintenance fees. I know this for a fact since I do it at least twice a year. What I usually pay in rental costs is far less than a maintenance fee at many resorts. Plus...I don't have that initial outlay and get to try new places if we want.

Good luck to you.
HeatherC

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

Well, any HONEST financial analysis you see on owning vs renting will favor NOT buying any TS including DVC unless you can buy cash and buy at a discount, which you can't with DVC(WDW right of first refusal). And even then there are the risks of little control over your investment(resort management and maintenance). Disney does protect the pricing to a great degree in order to protect its own retail sales - but that is not guaranteed. The main reasons that DVC is not a good deal is that most people must finance the purchase, the investment return rate generally outpaces lodging increases, every year you must lay out large maint payments, and especially with DVC in the end the lease simply expires and is worth nothing. I'll grant that with DVC there is much better resale than most TS, and that demand should remain strong enough that renting points out shouldn't be a problem in the near term, but other than being located on WDW property they are a way inferior lodging value to pay-as-you-go upscale off-site resorts. Add that as WDW adds more DVC units, it becomes less "exclusive", other than being located on the Reedy Creek property. You can book Ritz, Ginn Reunion, Gaylord Palms, etc every year for less than the price of DVC ownership. Go "down" a notch and rent at the Formosa Gardens area resorts(I use "down" loosely - they are all very close and well appointed resorts) and your "lifetime of vacations" expenses will be half or less than ownership.

Note that some will make a case that DVC is "worth it" if you vacation at WDW regularly every year for 7 to 10 years, but they often assume that you would pay undiscounted rates on-site, do not factor in realistic investment income gains or debt service costs if financed, and all around make economic assumptions that are inconsistant with historical trends. You also must deal with booking vacations far in advance and not always being able to get the exact dates/unit you want. I've yet to see a financial analysis that makes any TS including DVC a highly recommended financial move. You might break even if you do everything right, but why tie up money, go into debt, and be tied to something other than the absolute freedom of cash? Given the choices, there are far better investments available.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

opps - I meant to say he is not a pressure sales person - I am really the one giving myself the pressure...

The psychology of sales/marketing is fascinating, wonderfully illustrated by your statement "I am really the one giving myself the pressure." Not a DIS(pun intended) on you, we are all subject to the same reactions. Good car salesmen are masters at this as well(not dissing them either- it's their job). Just know that this "internal pressure" is EXACTLY the effect the sales people are looking for.

 

[snowbunny]

My parents own at BWV and we stayed there last year, it was lovely. Such a beautiful resort, relaxing, and no it was not a small unit or hotel room, we had plenty of room to spread out and enjoy our balcony overlooking the boardwalk.

That said I'm paying cash next trip and the choice was between a room at CSR for 7 nights with two kids vs. a townhome, we're going with the 3BR townhome which will be about the same as the one room at a moderate resort when factoring in the car rental cost.

If money is truly no object, I'd buy DVC and not be tied to having to rent a car each time, as well as having all the advantages of being onsite, such as being able to walk to Flying Fish Cafe! Maybe I'll change my mind after a visit to Windsor Hills, but again you said to take money out of the equation.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

many people go to Disney to escape the real world. that means no driving, almost no thinking, and that means onsite.

Nail on the head for me (a happy dvc owner)!

 

[5mins2disney]

My parents own at BWV and we stayed there last year, it was lovely. Such a beautiful resort, relaxing, and no it was not a small unit or hotel room, we had plenty of room to spread out and enjoy our balcony overlooking the boardwalk.

That said I'm paying cash next trip and the choice was between a room at CSR for 7 nights with two kids vs. a townhome, we're going with the 3BR townhome which will be about the same as the one room at a moderate resort when factoring in the car rental cost.

If money is truly no object, I'd buy DVC and not be tied to having to rent a car each time, as well as having all the advantages of being onsite, such as being able to walk to Flying Fish Cafe! Maybe I'll change my mind after a visit to Windsor Hills, but again you said to take money out of the equation.

Hehe...I own at Windsor Hills, and if $$ were TRULY no object, I'd be staying in the Presidential suite at the Grand Floridian every trip..LOL...any lotto winners want to share with me!?

Or perhaps that 8 bedroom mansion in Formosa Gardens that comes with it's own housekeeper.