what situation makes dvc a good deal?

[mikewdw]

my wife and i are teachers and really are able to go only in summer and maybe xmas (i am football and basketball coach) or spring break(but she is in different state so breaks usually are not same week.) we have talked about it and we love wilderness lodge. we just dont know if it makes financial sense for us? any tips or info would be helpful. i really am not sure if i know enough to ask good questions. any $ amount ballpark figures to get us started would be great.
thanks,
mikewdw

 

[NCRedding]

I am not an expert, but will at least answer a few questions, based upon my reading these boards over the last few years. DVC makes good sense if you love Disney World, love staying on site (usually deluxe) and plan on visiting there at least every other year. Read the FAQs on this board--they are a wealth of info. Think about your family structure: are you going to add children, take other family members, etc. If you decide you want Wilderness Lodge, you'll need to look for resales. Do you vacation at Disney during the summer--if so, then knowing when your vacation time is a plus--easier to plan for the 11th month window. Good luck with your decision (from a former basketball coach's wife).

 

[Lisa P.]

Do you expect to pay cash to stay onsite in a deluxe hotel room for at least one vacation every other year (not counting Christmas or Easter weeks)?

Do you usually stay for more than a long weekend?

Do you find that your vacations are not pleasing when you stay at nice offsite hotels/villas or at Disney's value hotels, because the Disney theme is not there (or insufficient)?

Can you comfortably afford the purchase price and annual dues, without putting a strain on your finances?

Are both you and your spouse interested in buying DVC?

If the answers to ALL of those are "yes," there's a good chance that DVC would be beneficial for you.

If one or more of those is "no" or "not sure," then you probably need to write out your expectations for how you would use DVC. Then compare it with the best prices you could get for pleasant alternative arrangements. There are people who do better without DVC. BTW, you didn't mention the number of people in your usual travel party.

The Villas at WL is sold-out so available by resale. The weeks surrounding Christmas/New Year's and Easter are very high in points, so not a great value with DVC - especially on Fri/Sat nights. Special discount rates may be available during the summer. However, if you usually stay in the deluxe hotels, DVC may still be better than discounts. HTH in your figuring.

 

[Merilyn]

We were already spending lots of money to vacation at nice places including OKW for 2 years. We didn't know about the timeshare when we stayed there. When I saw people taking tours, I asked about it. Before our next trip, we had bought into DVC on the phone. We wanted to stay somewhere that had a kitchen and laundry so DVC worked for us. We go every year either there or to one of the other DVC resorts. As others have said buy where you want to stay the most, the 11 month window is important. Since you plan on busy times of year you would certainly want to book at 11 months. Good luck with your decision. It really is a good vacation investment if you like to stay on site in the nicer resorts.

 

[gopherit]

My dh and I aren't teachers, but we do have 2 boys that are heavily into sports, and dh is usually a coach or assistant coach, which pretty much eats up the entire year! When we bought, we based our points on getting a 2BR villa once a year for a week... but at the "bargain" times. Now it seems the only time we can go is either mid-August or *possibly* quick trips at T-giving or Xmas. Yup, that's prime season! (August isn't TOO bad... but you need to be made of pretty hearty stuff to stand the heat! )

I agree with most of what everyone else has said here -- you need to like Disney, appreciate the merits of a villa on-site, and not go into debt over this! We travel once every other year for a 2 week trip now -- we decided we like long trips, versus annual small trips. When our third child (now age 3) gets a bit older, smaller trips may be more feasible, but for now, it works better if we can set down some roots on a trip!

I'd suggest getting the info packet from DVC. If nothing else, you'll get a look at all the resorts, and they can give you info on the prices for the current offering, Sarasota Springs. If it all still sounds like something you're interested in, you could then check resale boards to see what's available too.

Our reason for DVC is somewhat different than most -- we don't really look at it as an investment (though when we joind, points were $65 each, and now they are $89... not too shabby). We joined because it meant a vacation doing something OTHER THAN the "World Tour For Peace" (i.e., visiting family members) every time we got a break from work / school! And we could bring family along for the fun! We also feel that in our case, we do save some money because of the kitchen facilities in the villa -- I love Disney Dining, but I'd rather not plunk down mega bucks on a simple glass of OJ and breakfast fare when it's so easy to do myself in the comfort of our villa! (And it sure is nice to have that washing machine / dryer in the room, too!)

Good luck with your "investigation" into DVC -- hope you get the info you need to make the choice that's right!

 

[DebbieB]

I know I was paying $1,500-$2,000 a trip for a room at GF or Beach Club. I bought 250 points and now I can get 5 or 6 nights in a 1 bedroom at OKW in May and 6 nights in a 1 bedroom at Boardwalk in early December. I just fell in love with the 1 bedroom setup, having the living room, full kitchen, huge bathroom, not just a hotel room that's for sure.

My Mom and I decided to throw in an "extra" trip a couple weeks ago, 5 nights at CBR. We really missed the 1 bedroom! My Mom, who thought I was nuts buying DVC, kept complaining about the small room! Someone got spoiled....

 

[July]

Well, If you want $amounts and you like Wilderness Lodge the only way to get VWL is through resale.
I just did a looksee on one of the sites they have a 200 point resale for sale at $71 a point. $14,200. You would have to pay closing costs on top of that which would bring it up $400-600 more.
The maintenance cost for VWL are $4.02 a point so for a 200 point contract that would be $804.00 a year.
That should give you an idea of the $.
200 points VWL could be as low as $71 a point could be more.
You have to put in a bid.

Good Luck with you decision...
July

 

[Disney Doll]

Another thing to remember is that you are buying a long-term product. Right now, you're ability to vacation is limited to certain times of the year. Remember, the DVC will be yours until 2042(if you buy OKW,VWL,BWV,BCV).It will be 12 years longer if you buy at SSR. My point being, what you are able to do now may be very different than what you will be able to do 15 or 20 years from now. Your family structure may be very different...think about being empty-nesters going with friends as opposed to family(WDW as an adult is VERY different than WDW with kids!!!!!!), think about possibly taking grandchildren someday etc.

Right now, if you can go every other year, during the summer or during school vacation weeks...well, OK, it's not ideal, but one of the benefits of the DVC is that it breaks that "commando tour" habit that people get into at WDW. You know...."I'm here, I may not get here again for a long time, I've got to see everything". With the DVC, you KNOW you will be back. So, if you're there in August, schlepping around the MK, and you're hot, tired, and cranky, go back to your hotel, swim in the lovely pool,rent a boat,relax on your deck, relax by the pool, catch some sun and jump into the pool every few minutes to cool off, shop in some nice air-conditioned stores, have a lovely meal somewhere...you get the idea. You'll be less apt to think you have to slog through the boiling hot, crowded park if you know that within the next year or so, you'll be able to come back. DH and I were there in July, and that's exactly what we did. We went to the parks, when they got to be "too much", we went to the hotel and swam, went to DD and shopped, went to some of the offsite outlets and shopped, went out for lunch, went and looked around WWS, went and walked around Celebration, hotel-hopped(one of my favorite things to do...going to take a look at the different hotels on property).

DH and I are in our 40's, we have no children, and we go to WDW at least once a year, and sometimes more. The DVC has made a world of difference in our vacation style, it's nice to have a fridge in the room for snacks/drinks, it's nice to have a washer/dryer so packing is easier. It spoils you.

 

[mikewdw]

thanks for all of the great info. i guess we need to look at some info from them. where can i get it? where else would you recommend and why besides wilderness lodge?
mikewdw

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by mikewdw
thanks for all of the great info. i guess we need to look at some info from them. where can i get it? where else would you recommend and why besides wilderness lodge?
mikewdw

Why don't you rent from a member to stay at VWL and try it out.

 

[IndianaDVCMember]

DVC's value is the lowest for Spring break and Christmas time. The points are pretty steep for these times. Cash reservations are more expensive for these times too, but the difference isn't as dramatic. The point value for summer time is respectable. If you plan to travel every year, that is a point that favors DVC.

 

[mom2alix]

I see you're in Alabama. If you're close enough to drive you might also consider that the flexlibility of DVC would allow you to take shorter trips when your school schedules allowed (long weekends, etc.) If you bought Annual Passes you could really easily have several short trips instead of one long one without a lot of extra expense. With a family full of teachers we're constantly planning short trips around that Columbus Day holiday or any other small breaks built into the year. A lot of times those days are also in low season which makes for a better value too!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by IndianaDVCMember
DVC's value is the lowest for Spring break and Christmas time. The points are pretty steep for these times. Cash reservations are more expensive for these times too, but the difference isn't as dramatic. The point value for summer time is respectable. If you plan to travel every year, that is a point that favors DVC.

My experience has been the oposite. There have been essentially no discounts for those times and while the points are higher, the difference between points and cash is still usually very favorable for weeksays and even for weekends.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

DVC's value is the lowest for Spring break and Christmas time. The points are pretty steep for these times.

I have to disagree as well.

Discounts are VERY hard to find at Christmas/New Year's. This year we are staying at the VWL in a 2 BR for 5 days (250 points) then 6 days at the BCV in a 2 BR (290 Points). At $10.00 per point (if I was renting) the cost comes out to $5,400.00. Those same days in adjoining rooms at the Beach Club for the 6 (2 adults, four kids) of us would cost $12,100.00 if we were paying cash. That is almost enough money to buy 150 points.

If you travel during the holiday periods, DVC is an even better value.

HBC

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat

Discounts are VERY hard to find at Christmas/New Year's.
{snipity-snip}
If you travel during the holiday periods, DVC is an even better value.

I'm on the Christmas is *expensive* side of things. We are going down to WDW for 2 weeks. We'll be spending one week at AKL for $109 per night AP rate ($121.50 with tax) from 12/21 - 12/28. That's $851 total for a week. A studio at OKW would set us back 126 points or $1260 @ $10 per point. We're saving $409 by staying at AKL and that $109 rate is good for check-ins all the way until 12/25. Of course, we won't have a refrigerator or microwave at AKL, but that's OK with me . We'll buy a $5 cooler on our way in and use the microwave at The Mara.

Our second week (12/28-1/3) will be at OKW in a Grand Villa. Now, that's expensive!

 

[mikewdw]

if i send for info from dvc will i get a bunch of call from them pressuring me to buy? we are just thinking about it for the future. we are expecting our first in jan. so it is just something we are looking into for the future. we love it at a couple and of course want to take our little one there to.
mikewdw

 

[crisi]

You won't get any pressure, but you won't get very good information either. I'd start by checking out the DVC FAQ here and the info at www.mouseplanet.com. Look at the photos on www.wdwig.com. Read threads here. Check out the point charts (mouseplanet has some good ones) to see what you can get for the number of points you are considering buying. Look at a few resellers to see if that is a fit for you. Follow this board for a few weeks. And send away for the video - its pretty, but there isn't a lot of hard info in it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by crisi
You won't get any pressure, but you won't get very good information either. I'd start by checking out the DVC FAQ here and the info at www.mouseplanet.com. Look at the photos on www.wdwig.com. Read threads here. Check out the point charts (mouseplanet has some good ones) to see what you can get for the number of points you are considering buying. Look at a few resellers to see if that is a fit for you. Follow this board for a few weeks. And send away for the video - its pretty, but there isn't a lot of hard info in it.

I have to agree. When we were looking at buying (and we drug our feet for 4 years), we found it VERY hard to find REAL information. If this board would have been around then, I would have purchased MUCH sooner!

BTW, our ONLY regret is that we didn't purchase when we first heard about DVC!