What would longtime DVC members do?

[Dean]

I'm beginning to think, as a new perspective buyer, that a Wyndham membership might be better. Is that a bad word around here?

The answer is "It Depends". If one is happy off site, many are actually happier, you'd be correct. If one is looking at one option to do both Disney and non Disney trips, I think you're right again. Of course there's a big cost difference up front and a variable but noticeable yearly difference. Wyndham isn't the only consideration either, there are other companies that could be better for a given person & situation.

 

[disneynutz]

I'm beginning to think, as a new perspective buyer, that a Wyndham membership might be better. Is that a bad word around here?

IMO all timeshare programs have a "we got ya so now we don't need to provide a great product" business plan. We thought that Disney would be different and early on they were.

Now they are just like the others, changing the rules and policies, devoting most to their effort to sales not service. Like most companies today they are driven by profit not customer satisfaction.

I thought it interesting during an association meeting a couple of years ago when then newly appointed head of the DVC publicly promised full transparency. This was after 3 DVC/DVD executives were fired including the president of DVC. From her promise I got the feeling that there was some real issues behind the curtain, more than were made public. She was transferred to Paris after 18 months.

So Disney is like other companies, but if the DVC product fits your needs and you buy into it knowing what to expect, then go for it. You can always sell at any time should you decide to do so.

Bill

 

[crisi]

I'm beginning to think, as a new perspective buyer, that a Wyndham membership might be better. Is that a bad word around here?

Its not a bad word at all...but if I were doing it over, I'd stick with cash. We could have rented DVC points and we'd be a little behind financially - but actually probably not because we wouldn't have treated friends and family if we had outlays of cash instead of points. And there was a least one Disney trip we would have skipped.

Cash is simply flexible in ways timeshare ownership isn't. If the transmission goes out in the car, cash will fix it - a timeshare needs to be turned into cash through rental. Cash has allowed us to find some great deals, sometimes in timeshare units, sometimes in hotels.

The best thing DVC gave us was family vacations where - because we always stayed in a one or two bedroom - we weren't tripping over each other. But we could have gotten that other ways with cash. The one thing cash wouldn't have gotten us was habitual vacations - DVC forced us to vacation when we might have skipped (sometimes, as I said, treating others). That's been a nice benefit of ownership.

 

[Sur]

DVC has allowed us better accommodations at a place that has created an unbelievable environment. They have so many of the bases covered in managing an enormous empire. There would be no amazing movies with the corresponding characters in the parks the very week of the release.

We don't take for granted the undertaking that Disney has done to create what they have... it's one heck of a feat. There is NO company that has achieved anything remotely close, and that costs. We'll manage with the increases, or cut back a bit and do some rentals. We don't expect any treatment by Disney... know what we bought and exactly what it entails.

 

[bakerworld]

Yes.

We vacationed at WDW Poly many times in the 70's, honeymooned at Vacation Villas (SSR), stayed away in the 80's until our youngest was 4 (no, I don't think it's fun to vacation with a baby - we went to the beach ). We began vacationing at WDW again - cabins, moderates and finally moving to deluxe. Frankly, I am glad we didn't buy DVC when the kids were young because part of the vacation experience was the housekeeping (someone else making the bed, cleaning the bathrm, neatening up the room and replenishing the coffee supplies - extra pillows, please).

We'd looked into DVC over the years, even staying at OKW in 2001 and decided against. For us, buying after the kids were off on their own works. We enjoy spending time with each other. We like the DVC venues. We don't expect much, don't begrudge the worn textiles or feel 'entitled' to more than a discounted bed in a location within walking distance to a park. We don't wait in lines, do ADRs or plan to vacation with family/friends. If our 'kids' join us, that's fine but not a requirement. Our friends and family are beach people and I don't envy them their toes in the sand any more than they envy me our $8 beverage staring at a man made lake.

 

[Tink2312]

Yes, I would buy in again no question and I'm one of the crazies that bought into BLT at over $100/ pt in 2010! I didn't buy in for the perks but for the ability to stay year on year at BLT or a similar deluxe resort. Being from the UK, we tend to come over for 10-21 nights and so would struggle to pay cash to stay in a comparable resort for those nights every year. Sure, I could stay offsite or in a value and it would work out cheaper, but I fell in love with Disney on my first trip aged 6 and want the extra benefits a deluxe resort brings. If the benefits were taken away and I was limited to stay at BLT every year then I would still be happy (perhaps not as much, but content at least).

In terms of direct vs resale, I think I would alway end up buying my first contract direct, but I am currently buying a resale add on at BWV as the saving vs direct was too good to pass up.

For me, the DVC magic remains alive and I'm yet to have a trip where I don't thank God I'm in this position. I feel like a valued member and have been able to enjoy a Merry Member Mixer, Welcome Home Wednesdays, special event previews and mixers whilst on the Cruises which do make me feel special. I know people will disagree, but the membership magic remains strong for me

 

[bwvBound]

Its not a bad word at all...but if I were doing it over, I'd stick with cash. We could have rented DVC points and we'd be a little behind financially - but actually probably not because we wouldn't have treated friends and family if we had outlays of cash instead of points. And there was a least one Disney trip we would have skipped.

Cash is simply flexible in ways timeshare ownership isn't. If the transmission goes out in the car, cash will fix it - a timeshare needs to be turned into cash through rental. Cash has allowed us to find some great deals, sometimes in timeshare units, sometimes in hotels.

The best thing DVC gave us was family vacations where - because we always stayed in a one or two bedroom - we weren't tripping over each other. But we could have gotten that other ways with cash. The one thing cash wouldn't have gotten us was habitual vacations - DVC forced us to vacation when we might have skipped (sometimes, as I said, treating others). That's been a nice benefit of ownership.

crisi --

Thank you -- this post really hit home with me but possibly for the unintended twist in interpretation: timeshare eases the burden of hosting others!

Yep, for us -- timeshare is a HUGE WIN! as it makes it easier both for space and cost considerations to host family and friends. Looking back -- I'm very glad my family (DH/me, my parents, my siblings with their children) formed patterns of gathering together using our combined timeshares. Now that our parents are gone, we siblings continue to plan gatherings together and are looking forward to more to come. Seriously, I don't think I'd be willing to pay cash on a per-reservation basis to host others -- but timeshare makes this "ok" with my cash-frugal brain and space-hungry introverted nature.

Cool! Thanks for helping this 'click' a bit better for me! I'm even more happy for our decision to own these silly toys!
- bwvBound
Looking foward to sharing with family:

• This New Years in a local ski resort area with siblings and their family (multiple 2BR units for 5 nights)
• Easter at our weekend home ... a tradition.
• AKV Savanna view for Everest Expedition 5k Challenge Course (multiple 2BR units for 4 nights) followed by additional days off property (multiple 3BR units for 3 nights)
• Memorial Day weekend at SoCal Coastal property (3BR Penthouse unit)
• Next New Years in SoCal Desert region (4BR Presidential unit with additional smaller units as needed for 4 nights)
• More to come!

PS: Thanks, Mom and Dad for starting us early with lots of great vacations! Thanks for renting the beach house on the Jersey Shore year after year to create the pattern. Thanks for the dragging us to Europe as kids and teaching us how to live via train for weeks on end. Thanks for the RV travels. Thanks for tossing us in the car for countless road trips. Thanks for joining us on cruises and thanks for joining us in timeshare. Miss you greatly!

 

[crisi]

I agree that two things a timeshare makes that for some people bring a LOT of value: host friends/family and enforce vacations. Neither makes DVC "cheaper" - and its part of the reason I'm big on the "I don't think most of us save money"- but both have great value. I think when you are deciding to buy, its something to take into consideration.

 

[McCrae]

We bought BLT at 99 in 2009 and would do this gain in a heart beat.

We really enjoy Disney as a family holiday and will visit every 2-3 years without fail.

We tend to stay for around 20 nights at a tine in a 2br. This summer we priced our normal vacation on the Disney website and it would of cost us close to $25,000 just for the room.

That is more than half the value of our investment.

We have saved a lot of money already visiting Disney using DVC and think it's been great value.

If circumstances change we can always rent our points out , giving us an annual yield of about 10%.

I don't think I would spend $150 or more per point.

 

[CarolynMink]

If you had to buy into it today? Would you do it? Assume all of the circumstances are the same when you bought into originally.

You ask a very good question.

Yes, I would. We have four contracts - 3 direct and 1 resale.

Yes, disney is expensive. However, when you consider this week the movie theater wanted to charge me $4.25 for a bottle of water. My total cost for a family of 4 at a matinee was $80. And balcony tickets to "Wicked" cost me $115 each. How my family enjoys life is expensive.

Every time I think about renting out our points, my family complains.

There were so many factors to our original decision and it took me 7 years from the time I looked into purchasing to our first purchase.

1. Our first purchase was financed with funds from an inheritance. (With the request of the donor to use the money for something fun & lasting for my family.) DVC has certainly met this request.
2. No purchase was financed more than one year and an interest rate no higher than 4%. (Not likely to be possible now.)
3. My children were 9 & 7 years old.

Now, our children our 18 & 16. My daughter is in college studying animation and comic art. My son still loves our trips. Our last trip, we did host our closest friends first trip to WDW. They have already booked their trip back.

After 8 years of ownership, we are reaching our break even point and I could sell with my contracts still having value.

So, yes the magic is still there for us.

 

[bobbiwoz]

10 year members and we are happy members, and we would do it again.

We are empty nesters and bought as same. This January will be the first one DH & I can spend most of January using DVC. I've done the previous 2 with friends.
DH & I just returned from one of our best DVC vacations ever.

Bobbi

 

[com_op_2000]

If you had to buy into it today? Would you do it? Assume all of the circumstances are the same when you bought into originally.

If I could get into DVC today at what I paid for the full access back in '93, with my additions that I bought in '97 and '11. I would buy in, in a minute.
I paid within $1 for all my poiints.

 

[yitbos96bb]

If you had to buy into it today? Would you do it? Assume all of the circumstances are the same when you bought into originally.

If pricing is the same as when I bought in 2005 then yes I would. We bought before kids and I like my lower cost per trip I pay at the time of the trip.

At current prices.... Only with the poly and even then that's a maybe. I think the pricing has gotten ridiculously high but then I paid half of the current pricing so I'm a bit biased. I'll buy some poly points but I doubt it will be as many as it would be with a new purchase. Just too much now.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Our best friends spent ten years trying to conceive a baby. We promised them a trip for their child. The baby (adopted) turns two this Christmas. We've decided to hold onto the points at least until we take that trip - and we've decided the ideal age is four. This years points have been promised to my Girl Scouts. After that, we will see - my daughter will be college age and if I have the points and she uses them for Spring Break- we may keep them. If we decide to get away from Minnesota winters, we may keep them. Or we may sell them.

We now have them - it is, in material terms - a wash for us if I use them or rent them or sell them. So I might as well hang onto them until we take this trip, and then reevaluate.

Yep. Renting points out more than covers your annual fee and makes a small profit while still allowing you to donate or use if so desired.

 

[sweetdana]

At resale prices yes, * at direct not a chance. (Also many resorts even resale IMO are to costly. Like bc with as few yrs left and about 95$ it blows my mind who buys this).

*I would stick with a small amount of points (maybe 50-75) for ap discount, and transfer ability, but not the 160 I did. I bought 160 and today it is okay, but I see in a couple yrs it likely will be too many. Once my 9 yr old is a Disney adult , we will not be at same price levels (dining and spending on her) and this will certainly put more time between trips.

At 70$ for say ssr your cost per year makes sence. 5 yrs and then only mf. At 150 (possibly adding interest)... Nope IMO break even too far out with risk of dues increasing, being annually required to 1 vac spot. I feel I need more of a sooner break even.

Getting a smaller contract, And as far as transfers they run between 9 - 11$ a point, so the. "Fee" of about. 3$ to me would be better for us. We could have more points when needed, and hardly any other times. Also the ability to pick the 11 month window for the yr on transfers is fantastic! I looked for a bc when I needed food n wine, and ak to try a value room, and stand by of ssr as it is the least expensive usually. And 0 risk on trf points, unlike value of the owners point in 15 yrs.


The while dvc saved me $$... Is false in our case.
Dvc saved me zilch. In fact it has cost me thousands. I have upgraded from what would be a 10 night stay at POR to a 12 night stay at the bc or ssr and a 5 night stay as well .. (Annually) And about 1/2 are in 1 bed rooms. (Usually 3 trips in 12 months then off for a period of time). I also buy transfers for more when needed, annual passes, dining plan,, ect all bringing costs up.

We get out if it a bunch more vk time. So in I would still keep/buy some, but if I had 2 contracts... I'd likely sell 1 in a yr or 2 n keep less points. And if I did it today I'd but 75 points not 160.

 

[disneynutz]

DVC is just a place to stay, for us at WDW. DVC still saves us some money and allows us to vacation at WDW spending only a couple of thousand per vacation instead of several thousand.

Sad thing is, WDW continues to change, less quality food options, higher costs, less about the customer experience and more about packing them in and turning over tables.

Park hours are all about making Disney money, wanted to see Osborne lights a couple of weeks ago and DHS closed at 6:00PM, must have been a private party. Seems like the MK has more hard ticket events than regular nights.

We enjoy our resort time more than our park time now, should that change, we will take up a different hobby.

Bill

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

Yes, we would buy again. We originally bought at SSR in 2006, the only regret we have is that we didn't buy more points in 2004 when we were first interested in DVC. We bought before we had DD and enjoyed our adults vacations immensely. Like Crisi, my DH is a workaholic that owns his own bussiness and if we didn't have these trips scheduled he would never take the time off to go. We now have time to relax and smell the roses as our trips are not rushed and we get to do other things, besides the parks, that Disney and the Orlando area offer during our vacation.

Of course when DD was born, our DVC became our ideal investment because we had the perfect place to take her while we enjoyed our vacation too.

We now own at SSR, AKV, BLT and VGF. We are also looking into buying a 100 points at BCV as for some reason we always end up staying there.

Then again, I am on a vacation high right now as we just spent Christmas at BCV and I am writing from our value studio at AKV where we just spent New Years. Rack rate for a standard room at BC was $600 for that week and almost $500 at AKL for this past week. How can I not love my DVC?

Although I must say, we have friends that bought at AKV last January direct with Disney at $120-$125 (?) on our advice, but, we have 3 different families that are interested in buying right now and we have adviced them to buy resale. I think Disney is really pricing itself out of an affordable family vacation time share at $150 per point.