What are the true benefits of owns DVC?

[maearley98]

Hi All, We just returned from a nine day stay in WDW and did not stay on property since there were eight of us! But we did look into the DVC Sales presentation since I'm interested in the benefits of this program. As much as I love and enjoy our trips to Disney our sons are 17, 19 and the Disney trips are not as much fun for them as they were. They need more thrills. But I'm looking for the beneifts of owning DVC points to trade through II. Are the resorts exceptional? WE normally take one - two week vacations and first choice would be a beach property. Is this worth it for us? We like to take a big trip every year and then several weekend getaways but my gut instinct is this point system is very expensive ... more then I might pay if I plan each year myself without the timeshare.


Really need help here.. I want to buy into it. I love the Disney resorts and I want to enjoy them with our family as we grow but I need to understand the real benefit to all of this if we don't plan on a Disney trip every year.

Thanks!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, maearley98. There are many good reasons to own DVC, but in my opinion, to trade it is not one of them.
If you would enjoy great, on-site accommodations at least every two or three years, then buying minimum points may be a good deal for you. That way, with banking and borrowing, you could have a big trip every two or three years.

I am not a timeshare expert, but I do know there are cheaper ways to trade within the timeshare system.

Good luck....

PS- To answer your question, yes, the DVC resorts are exceptional. If you enjoy the Disney resorts, you will like DVC. The 2br villas will accommodate eight people.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

With the age of your kids, DVC may not be for you, and it's not the best for trading. A great resource to check into timeshares is www.tug2.net. Also, you may want to consider renting DVC points on the rent/trade board link above.

 

[SamSam]

You mentioned Beach Property as a priority......DVC has Vero Beach which could be just what you're looking for. Then you would have the benefit of the Beach Property and also the WDW properties.

 

[vernon]

Buying DVC to trade into II is not the most economical way to use your $$, there are much cheaper resorts that will give you access that is almost as good.

DVC really only makes economic sense if you plan to stay on WDW on a regular basis, as good as Vero and HH are ( they are both top cless resorts in their own right) again there are resorts that are cheaper for the basically the same experience (although "trading" from Vero and HH to WDW is easier than using II)

Again your secondary plan, to use several long weekends, is not the best way to use DVC. I wouldn't completely discount DVC and it's certainly worth a trip through the sales pitch to see if it might work for you, but unless you can be a lot more flexible that you have indicated here, I'd be suprised if there weren't better options out there for you.

 

[bcvillastwo]

There are lots of ways to look at DVC or any other timeshare and you will certainly get a good number of excellent responses to your questions.

I have to agree with the point that if you are buying to trade, it probably isn't a good idea. If you are looking to trade (for whatever your reasons) I definitely would suggest you look into a resale. From what I can see the resales (other than DVC) seem considerably less expensive than being the first time buyer.

One last point, if you and your wife like WDW enough that you plan to visit every 3 years or so then you really may want to consider the suggestion that you buy the minimum number of DVC points and then bank and borrow so you can have a real nice trip every 3 years. The other years you can go somewhere else. My point is, that while it's important to consider the kids, at this point in their (and your) lives, I would start thinking about life sans kids.

Just my 2 cents worth and good luck on your decision.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I bought in 1997 when my kids were 20 and 17, thinking of disney without the kids since they were growing up fast. I only bought 170 pts, and it should have been enough! As some posters already know, I am up to 700 pts now, since the durn kids keep coming to Disney!! They like it much better now that we own at BWV--it has tons of things for young adults to do there.

As mentioned, DVC is only a good value if you plan to stay on site. Otherwise, stay at some $39 hotel anywhere in Orlando, and put up with I-4. That's why so many of us stay on-site--no I-4, no crummy discount t-shirt shops, no strip malls, no junkiness. We have luxurious, quiet, pampered vacations, and for all of us it's well worth it.

If you want to trade, go to the resale board, and buy some of the stuff there. You can get some junk for under $2000, or go nicer and get Marriott for $8000-$12,000. It depends on whether you want to stay in junk or not, since trades are usually pretty evenly swapped. I like my Marriott for trading since Marriott has their own internal program thru II, but Rich (on this board) would be better able than I am to recommend good trades. DVC is for staying on-site, since it's the best use of your points.