value of "Member Getaways"

[cigar95]

I've been thinking about looking for a DVC resale for a while, so I recently ordered the advertising video from Disney.

One of the things that looks really appealing are some of the "member getaways" - other resorts across the country, neat special vacations, and so on. **However** . . . .

I've seen the points charts for the non-DVC resorts at WDW, and it's clear that they're not nearly as good a value as staying at one of the DVC properties.

So, I'm wondering about the value of the other member getaways. For instance, if one compares the cash price of a biking tour through the Canadian Rockies to the cost of doing it as a DVC trip, is it a good value? Can we think of it in terms of some number of dollars per point?

The only direct comparison I can make would be the points cost of staying on Mackinac Island, since I've been there an I know what things cost. (What are the DVC points costs to stay at Grand Hotel?)

Thanks for any insight here. DVC sounds like a pretty good deal, but I don't think I want to go to WDW *every* single year for vacation.

 

[Geyser Gazer]

Hi Cigar95,

My gut feeling is that while the "getaways" rates may be consistently better than rack rates they are not outstanding and may not even be the best available for a given resort. Nevertheless the getaways allow for flexibility to try something new and can serve as an "accomodations savings bank". For instance, I may find myself in need of deluxe lodging in California one day and opt to use my pre paid points instead of additional cash.

Also, with banking and borrowing points you could do WDW as infrequently as once every 3 years if you so desired.

 

[canda]

As for the value it depends when you go. Before we became dvc''rs we take a trip to the Grove Park Inn in NC, every year. It cost us anywhere from 180 - 400 a night. (we stay on the club floor sometimes) but the points are only 33- an night (or close to it) I would not want to use my points for stay if a discount was offered by the hotel. We may go stay at Charleston Place for 46 points a night for the club floor. That rate can be over 500 a night. Being an Orient Express Hotel it rarely offers discounts.

 

[PamOKW]

Here's the 2001 point info for Mackinac Island. (They have one of the most elaborate breakouts).

Standard S-Th
5/3-6/7 & 10/7-11/4 -- 37
6/8-7/1 & 9/26-10/6 -- 50
7/2-9/25 -- 63

Standard F-Sa
5/3-6/7 & 10/7-11/4 -- 43
6/8-7/1 & 9/26-10/6 -- 55
7/2-9/25 -- 66

Deluxe Lake S-Th
5/3-6/7 & 10/7-11/4 -- 42
6/8-7/1 & 9/26-10/6 -- 55
7/2-9/25 -- 68

Deluxe Lake F-Sa
5/3-6/7 & 10/7-11/4 -- 48
6/8-7/1 & 9/26-10/6 -- 60
7/2-9/25 -- 72

I need to go back and check something. It also said daily breakfast and 5-course dinner for the first two occupants would be included for 11/5-12/31 but I don't see a point schedule for those date.

 

[cigar95]

Thanks for those details, Pam. The reason that no point info is available after 11/4 is that the Grand closes for the season every year right around the first of November until the following Spring. And in fact, the breakfast and dinner you described are *always* included for hotel guests. (It may have been worded strangely where you were reading.)

Given that standard view rooms at the Grand (completely unthemed views) are often available for about $350 a night, it sounds like this is a case where the better value might be to rent out the DVC points and use the proceeds to visit the Grand as a cash guest.

 

[PamOKW]

Cigar95 glad you can make some sense of the breakfast/dinner mention. It says they are closed from Jan 1-May something and then the comment about the breakfast/dinner. I guess it would be something to get straight when making a reservation.

It's easier to compare when you have some idea what the place costs already. Basically, you aren't getting any "deal" when you stay outside of DVC but you are given options for using your points. If you think of it as your pre-paid vacation you can go lots of places and do lots of things. If you want to find the less expensive/cheapest way to do it that may not be it. Not everyone is comfortable renting their points on the open market so this gives them other options when they can't/don't go to Disney. It let's you vacation elsewhere without laying out additional actual cash.

 

[Dean]

I think you'll find that in almost every case, the "cost" of using DVC points will be more than the value of those points. The best value comparatively will be for an II exchange. Concierge Collection, DC, DCL, Adventurer collection are all going to be poor deals when compared with cash. There may be a special example where a cash discount was not availablt AND DVC was not blacked out. So far I haven't seen it. I value my points at about $10 pp and feel that not having to fool with renting has an inherent value as well. That means that any "exchange" not giving me at least $8 pp is not something I'd consider unless the points are distressed. If I'd bought BW, VB or WLV for $65-72 pp, I'd raise those levels about $1-2 pp due to the higher cost and yearly fees.

It's nice to have options but truthfully they are not reasonable options for most people. Of course there are those that want to buy DVC and never think about paying for a vacation again regardless of the "point cost" and that is their right.