I understand how you can feel that way. I am sorry DVC is a sore subject. Why did you add on then may I ask?
We are looking at adding on and additional 150 pts.. (to our 150 pts currently).. the previous poster (Tiger) just scared the heck out of me..
I'm sorry for posting and not coming back. I did so right before school today, and my students have kept me hopping all day long! I didn't mean to freak anyone out.
Only you know your financial situation best, so I always remind people that owing DVC sucks a lot of money - initial buy-in, yearly dues, and costs associated with each vacation (tickets, food, transportation). We normally took annual 1 week vacations in moderate hotels, but once we bought into DVC, we took longer vacations, and more vacations. We've taken 4 more vacations with DVC than we would have taken had we not purchased, and that has cost us thousands of dollars more.
We added on because we had a second child (were told we couldn't have more kids), of the opposite gender, so we were worried about the kids sleeping together, as they are 4 years apart. So, we thought we needed to add on to accommodate 1 bedrooms. We do feel that studios are not worth it, and so 1 bedrooms are more value, but they are considerably more money in buy-in membership, dues and points per use. We could have just banked points, and gone every other year, but at the time, we thought we deserved yearly trips to WDW.
We added on very impulsively last year as well, as the point reallocations cost us close to 40 points, so we added on 60 points. All we needed to do was cut out a few days, or, do mostly 1 bedroom, and the last few days in a studio, to work within our 300 points. Hubby didn't want that, and so we added on, which we now highly regret.
We regret buying into DVC because it has cost us more money than we thought it would. We did the financials, but each trip food costs go up, ticket costs, transportation, etc. and extra trips, have cost thousands more. At this point, we take 10 night/11 days vacations in the summer in a 1 bedroom, and this still costs a lot. We can't knock much more off, as we drive, and that's a long drive, so we need to stick within those days.
Starting with our next trip, we have slashed our food budget, as we've spent excessively on food over the years. We now have to make up for how much DVC has sucked from us, so we are doing our best to cut costs where possible. We think the 1 bedroom is best, as we can cook in our room and do laundry, whereas you can't do this in a studio room. Also, we are only going to take 1 trip per year, as this also keeps costs down.
The last point I want to make is that the addonitis that permeates on these boards is infectious, so you have to watch out. We fell for it, and we never should have, as I would love to have taken those thousands of dollars, and put them on my mortgage. So, that is why I say, even if you have the money to pay cash for an add-on, and can cover your dues, on a yearly basis, please add up all of the extra associated costs. The cumulative costs are staggering, IMHO. Between our buy-in/add-ons, 6.5 years of dues, and vacations costs, we are at a staggering $71,000 that we've plunked down on DVC in 6.5 years. Have we had great vacations? Yes. But we could have had them with paying cash for moderate rooms. We never should have spent this much money on DVC, when we are a young family paying a mortgage, saving for kids' university funds and retirement funds. We would have been happy just staying in the moderate hotels for 1 week, and paying cash each year - even taking these vacations away, we are at approx. $50,000, and that is just huge.
I highly encourage people to not fall for addonitis, and really look at how much DVC is truly costing them. It's an individual feeling as to when you will know when enough points are enough, but sometimes, nostalgia and addonitis get in the way, and that is a money sucker.
Tiger
Bill
Want to sell, but will lose big time due to CDN exchange rates at time of purchase and associated fees.
scared1
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