What does this all cost?

[cindysteve]

OK, I understand the initial purchase price, but what does it cost each year for maintenance? Is it based on points owned, home resort, or what? And what are some examples? In other words, what would I really be getting into as far as total cost?

 

[DVCLiz]

Each resort has its own set maintenance fee, based on a per point charge. I think this year my maintenance fees on a 165 point contract were about $4.50 a point (That's a guess - someone will post the real numbers for you in a minute), so $742.50 for the year.

If you are paying for your contract up front, you will only have maintenance fees to pay each year. You can pay them all at once at the beginning of the year, or have them drafted monthly. If you financed, you'll have your monthly payment in addition, of course.

Those are the only "costs" of owning DVC, although the other factor is that you are still paying some costs of the vacation - tickets, travel, rental car or airfare, food, souvenirs, etyc. Those don't go away!!!

 

[LisaS]

Here is a chart of the dues per point for each resort. It also shows the dues increases at each resort: http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/DVC/DVCDuesHistory.htm

 

[pilferk]

Those are the only "costs" of owning DVC, although the other factor is that you are still paying some costs of the vacation - tickets, travel, rental car or airfare, food, souvenirs, etyc. Those don't go away!!!

And there are ways to minimize the other costs, too.

We're willing to drive 1200 miles, rather than fly, because for the 5 of us it's usually less expensive (sometimes by a little, sometimes by a LOT).

If you can schedule your travel times, using 2 allotments of point, to fall within the same 365 days (say travelling for a week in January and then another in November), AP's can save you admission cost over the sum total of the trips. The DVC AP discount is a huge help, too.

The Disney Dining plan, while not the best option for some, can be a real budget saver if you can live within it's confines. If that doesn't work for you, if you purchase an AP, you can buy the Disney Dining Experience card which will get you 20% off your total bill (including adult beverages) at many, many disney Table Service places.

There's tons of other suggestions, too...the budget board is a great hang out for tips like that.

Edit: I know DVCLiz knows all this...it's more for the benefit of the OP.

 

[DVCLiz]

And there are ways to minimize the other costs, too.

We're willing to drive 1200 miles, rather than fly, because for the 5 of us it's usually less expensive (sometimes by a little, sometimes by a LOT).

If you can schedule your travel times, using 2 allotments of point, to fall within the same 365 days (say travelling for a week in January and then another in November), AP's can save you admission cost over the sum total of the trips. The DVC AP discount is a huge help, too.

The Disney Dining plan, while not the best option for some, can be a real budget saver if you can live within it's confines. If that doesn't work for you, if you purchase an AP, you can buy the Disney Dining Experience card which will get you 20% off your total bill (including adult beverages) at many, many disney Table Service places.

There's tons of other suggestions, too...the budget board is a great hang out for tips like that.

Edit: I know DVCLiz knows all this...it's more for the benefit of the OP.

Yes, I do, but it's worth telling the OP!!!!

OP, we had a "free" trip last year. We drove down to HH, stayed in a 2BR villa for 5 days, and enjoyed all the amenitities of the beach without spending any money (other than our food costs, which we would have spent at home as well. ) OK, we did probably have one extra tank of gas in there, but still...

And DD13 and I went to WDW last year for Spring Break. We drove down, so no flights or rental car, used my AP and her previously purchased 10 day no expiration ticket, which had 7 days remaming after our last trip, and used the DDE card for our meals. Oh, and stayed at ther BCV on our DVC points. So, except for meals and shopping (which admittedly is high whenever either of my daughters is around!!) it was "free" too!!!

See how easy it is to justify more points???!!!!

 

[Cruelladeville]

Since you live near Chicago, you may be able to take care of travel expenses by signing up for the Ding rates for airfare, and then you can always take a flight round trip for $100 or so. If there are only 2-3 of you, flying can be less expensive than driving, which for us(we live in Michigan) runs about $400 or more per trip. Last year we flew down for $103 round trip, and took Magical Express, so we paid only $206. I loved that!