When luxury is worth it: Glad I bought DVC 15 years ago!

[talulabelle]

Oh, I didn't say you were trying to deceive anyone at all. You didn't mention point total though, and so I didn't want people to think that dues are only $600.00/yr. They are with only a small amount of points, such as the 160 points you have.

With the amount of points we have, dues are 3x as much as yours, so that's why I mentioned that, as basis for comparison. I find people get really confused about the whole dues thing, as they don't realize that it's based on amount of points in our contracts.

Sorry for the confusion, as not sure how that happened, Tiger

See, ( no hostility here - seriously - just amazement) I just can't imagine paying those kind of dues after laying down a chunk of money up front and still feel like I was getting a deal. You don't get your dues back if you resell. I pay much less for my week in a 2brm at Bonnet Creek than most people pay in their annual dues. Seriously, I pay between $699 and $799. No other cost. (just my park tickets and groceries) When I look at the costs of DVC, then realize that you still have to buy the park tickets and food as well- that just amazes me.

 

[Tiger926]

See, ( no hostility here - seriously - just amazement) I just can't imagine paying those kind of dues after laying down a chunk of money up front and still feel like I was getting a deal. You don't get your dues back if you resell. I pay much less for my week in a 2brm at Bonnet Creek than most people pay in their annual dues. Seriously, I pay between $699 and $799. No other cost. (just my park tickets and groceries) When I look at the costs of DVC, then realize that you still have to buy the park tickets and food as well- that just amazes me.

Well, once you add up your buy-in, plus dues, you get a per room night rate. And for us, it's on par with a moderate rate. Until you actually do the numbers yourself, then you will have a better chance for comparison. Our dues and buy in this year will cost $2500.00. We are staying for 15 nights this summer in a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Old Key West. Divide that and you have $167.00/night for a 1 bedroom villa. Plus, a huge savings on food, and we also have washer/dryer in our room. It works for us, but it may not work for you.

By the way, we don't compare to rack rate, but what we have paid for former vacations in the past. We also don't discuss free dining or any other promos, as those can go at any time. If you can get that for when you go, great. But owning DVC is a long term project, so there will be years where my rates will be much cheaper than your rates.

I don't feel comparing to Bonnet Creek is fair long term comparison. That is a new timeshare property, so they give away nights/weeks as enticement for you to purchase an interest in their property. Hilton and Marriott have been doing this for years. Will that always be available? Not sure. A few years ago, Bonnet Creek was a plot of land owned by Disney, and no one knew that other non-Disney hotels would be built there. So, for now you can get great rates, but what about in 8-10 years time? There may be another great rate waiting for you, but there may not.

Sure there are cheaper alternatives around Disney, but we aren't interested in dealing with transportation, or renting houses from strangers.

Like I said, you can use Bonnet Creek numbers today, but I've owned DVC for 7 years, and there was no Bonnet Creek. We looked into Hilton and Marriott timeshares, and they were all more than Disney, by the time you added up all vacation costs.

As for tickets and food - food can be free, as we stay in 1 bedrooms with full kitchen, and tickets are discounted heavily for Annual Passes. You still need both food and tickets at Bonnet Creek too, so you also have those expenses, unless you go back and cook your meals, like we do.

Lastly, just as I don't get my dues back, you don't get your room rate back. It is a cost of the vacation - I don't understand your line of thinking here.

Hope this helps, Tiger

 

[jodifla]

See, ( no hostility here - seriously - just amazement) I just can't imagine paying those kind of dues after laying down a chunk of money up front and still feel like I was getting a deal. You don't get your dues back if you resell. I pay much less for my week in a 2brm at Bonnet Creek than most people pay in their annual dues. Seriously, I pay between $699 and $799. No other cost. (just my park tickets and groceries) When I look at the costs of DVC, then realize that you still have to buy the park tickets and food as well- that just amazes me.

You aren't paying "much less" than I am for my 206 annual points. We pay about $800.

It's fine if you want to be off property.....DVC's value lies in if you want to be ON property, and have 1 and 2 bedroom accommodations.

DVC is certainly not the cheapest way to do Disney. But it's the cheapest way to do large Disney accommodations.

 

[palavra]

Wow.. such negativity... This is a common theme on here... Jealousy....
Be happy for her.
Its nobodys buisness to pick apart what she spends on her trips... give me a break!
We too have DVC and don't regret our purchase... and I don't care if it was a good financial decision or not... I am HAPPY with it... I can afford it without it being a problem in my budget...
This board is ridiculous so much of the time..
Congrats OP... Enjoy your trip!! Bay Lake is in a great Spot!! its our home resort... wouldn't trade it for anything!

This is a budget board. I think a lot of people on here might disagree with her about the cost effective message she is conveying.

 

[crisi]

I really don't think its jealousy....and I'm frankly always amused when its assumed that because someone disagrees with your taste or opinion, they are jealous.

After ten years of DVC ownership - and ten years of hanging on the DVC board watching other owners - you CAN save money with DVC, but MOST people do not. For ten years, those deals that Tiger says "could go away" have been great deals...that's more than a quarter of my potential ownership period - and probably half or more of my actual ownership period. If I'm making a decision off deals at this point in time, DVC doesn't win - however, 15 years ago when Jodi bought, the analysis would have been different. Likewise, if I wanted DVC now, I'd rent. There is some risk, not much - but ten years ago when I bought, there wasn't that much savings with a rental, and much more work to set them up. I'd never buy now - and if I were tempted, I certainly wouldn't buy from Disney. But when Jodi bought fifteen years ago, the math was VERY different. When I bought resale ten years ago, the math was different - as was the place we were in life - with young kids who wanted to go to Disney. Now, other places are more attractive.

For those that can afford it and desire it, DVC can be a good value. However, for many other people, it isn't a good value. And for many people, DVC has been a disaster. They've bought points, fallen on hard times, and ended up under water.

My husband drives an Audi. I drive a Prius. Both of us could get to work in a Yaris and do just fine - we even work within two miles of each other, we could do it one one Yaris. I might end up saving some money on gas in my Prius, I may end up not quite breaking even on the increased price over a regular car. But I'll never come out ahead financially over that Yaris. And he isn't even thinking about driving an affordable car - that isn't his criteria. Some decisions in life are not financial.

 

[cseca]

See, ( no hostility here - seriously - just amazement) I just can't imagine paying those kind of dues after laying down a chunk of money up front and still feel like I was getting a deal. You don't get your dues back if you resell. I pay much less for my week in a 2brm at Bonnet Creek than most people pay in their annual dues. Seriously, I pay between $699 and $799. No other cost. (just my park tickets and groceries) When I look at the costs of DVC, then realize that you still have to buy the park tickets and food as well- that just amazes me.

No we don't get our dues back but we can have someone else pay it for us.
Depends on how you play the game.
I found out that for the past 10 years if I rent out half my points per year I can pay off my MF and still have half the points to use for the year.

No I don't do that every year nor will it continue to work for the next 30 years (if the rental price continue to stay stagnant as the past 10 years). But it has worked out well for me. Or DVC might change their rules about point rental and change all that.

On some years when I have to rent out some of my points, I basically pay less than $2/pt for our lodging.

Not saying what I have is better than yours... just saying it's different and if you know how to play the system we can save $ and still have all the convenience and luxury we want on property.

 

[SaraJayne]

You aren't paying "much less" than I am for my 206 annual points. We pay about $800.

It's fine if you want to be off property.....DVC's value lies in if you want to be ON property, and have 1 and 2 bedroom accommodations.

DVC is certainly not the cheapest way to do Disney. But it's the cheapest way to do large Disney accommodations.

But you're completely ignoring your purchase price of the points. You can't compare just MF, while disregarding the initial purchase price.

So she has a week at BC for $800. That's it, no other fees, no other purchase required, etc.

I have no dog in this fight, but you aren't comparing apples to apples.

 

[SaraJayne]

I really don't think its jealousy....and I'm frankly always amused when its assumed that because someone disagrees with your taste or opinion, they are jealous.

That seems to be a common refrain here.

 

[talulabelle]

No we don't get our dues back but we can have someone else pay it for us.
Depends on how you play the game.
I found out that for the past 10 years if I rent out half my points per year I can pay off my MF and still have half the points to use for the year.

No I don't do that every year nor will it continue to work for the next 30 years (if the rental price continue to stay stagnant as the past 10 years). But it has worked out well for me. Or DVC might change their rules about point rental and change all that.

On some years when I have to rent out some of my points, I basically pay less than $2/pt for our lodging.

Not saying what I have is better than yours... just saying it's different and if you know how to play the system we can save $ and still have all the convenience and luxury we want on property.

I can see that doing that would work..but while many have said, they enjoy the convenience of not having to search for deals and know their vacation is paid for - I LOVE searching for deals, and would be totally stressed worrying about having to rent out points. Also - again, I don't want to be tied to a Disney vacation every year or every other year. The other thing that makes it not work for me with the size of my family (5 kids) we would need a 2 bedroom every time which would mean I would need a sizable amount of points. A REALLY sizable amount if I was planning on doing what you do and rent them out to pay for the MF. Yep, works for some, but not for me. I also think it doesn't really work for many that have it and don't analyze it well. I have a friend that has DVC and she really isn't knowledgeable about her choices. She told me it paid itself off after a few trips. Again, she was comparing to rack rate and not to other options like Bonnet Creek. She uses her points to go on vacations elsewhere and on the cruise line and doesn't realize this really is not a good use of the money. Again, does absolutely no leg work searching pricing options. Searching for great deals on vacations is like my hobby. I totally get a high off getting a great vacation at a dirt cheap rate.

 

[I-Bike]

Wow.. such negativity... This is a common theme on here... Jealousy....
Be happy for her.
Its nobodys buisness to pick apart what she spends on her trips... give me a break!
We too have DVC and don't regret our purchase... and I don't care if it was a good financial decision or not... I am HAPPY with it... I can afford it without it being a problem in my budget...
This board is ridiculous so much of the time..
Congrats OP... Enjoy your trip!! Bay Lake is in a great Spot!! its our home resort... wouldn't trade it for anything!

So because people would prefer to spend $30k elswhere (ie. trips to Europe, Tahiti) rather than prepaying for vacations they're jealous?

I don't care what people do with their money, but I'm certainly not jealous that someone financed 30 years of vacations and have dues to pay every year to maintain one weeks worth of vacation in a hotel room. The idea of DVC seems nice and admittedly I've been to the "talk" but it just wasn't for us.

I don't know many people who are jealous that others own timeshares. There are plenty out there to buy.

 

[cseca]

... I have a friend that has DVC and she really isn't knowledgeable about her choices. ...
I totally get a high off getting a great vacation at a dirt cheap rate.

I totally understand your point, but that's why I want to point out that not everyone who buys into DVC is financially ignorant.
Some owners might still be wearing their Mickey colored glasses, but the rest of us have then those glasses off and still can say we saved (lodging only)...

 

[crisi]

So because people would prefer to spend $30k elswhere (ie. trips to Europe, Tahiti) rather than prepaying for vacations they're jealous?

A friend of mine LOVES to backpack. She is spending a month backpacking through the hills of Scotland this summer. To her this is heavenly, and being a supportive friend, I'm very excited for her.

But my personal lack of enthusiasm for this plan is about as far from jealousy as you can get. Scotland is cold even in the Summer, I've been there and I could spend my whole life not going back (it is a pretty country though). I'm NOT nearly as excited about backpacking as she is - I'm not really likely to spend a night in a tent if I can get out of it. The month off DOES sound lovely, and I'm a little green there, but she gets it because she is a public school teacher, and while its a wonderful worthwhile job for her, it is not my calling.

It is this I think of when people say "they are just jealous" over frequent trips to Disney. Believe it or not, Disney is hell on Earth for many people. Usually crowded, often hot, commercial, with a huge eco footprint. Expensive and artificial. Good food - for a theme park - but marginal food for any large city. Filled with "low brow cultural opportunities." The people who think like this are so NOT jealous. There "Disney again?s" are really because as far as they can tell, you repeatedly sign up for a week of torture.

 

[SaraJayne]

A friend of mine LOVES to backpack. She is spending a month backpacking through the hills of Scotland this summer. To her this is heavenly, and being a supportive friend, I'm very excited for her.

But my personal lack of enthusiasm for this plan is about as far from jealousy as you can get. Scotland is cold even in the Summer, I've been there and I could spend my whole life not going back (it is a pretty country though). I'm NOT nearly as excited about backpacking as she is - I'm not really likely to spend a night in a tent if I can get out of it. The month off DOES sound lovely, and I'm a little green there, but she gets it because she is a public school teacher, and while its a wonderful worthwhile job for her, it is not my calling.

It is this I think of when people say "they are just jealous" over frequent trips to Disney. Believe it or not, Disney is hell on Earth for many people. Usually crowded, often hot, commercial, with a huge eco footprint. Expensive and artificial. Good food - for a theme park - but marginal food for any large city. Filled with "low brow cultural opportunities." The people who think like this are so NOT jealous. There "Disney again?s" are really because as far as they can tell, you repeatedly sign up for a week of torture.

You can put my DH in that column. Luckily, he "allows" me to go without him.

 

[jodifla]

But you're completely ignoring your purchase price of the points. You can't compare just MF, while disregarding the initial purchase price.

So she has a week at BC for $800. That's it, no other fees, no other purchase required, etc.

I have no dog in this fight, but you aren't comparing apples to apples.

First of all, I paid it 15 years ago. Doesn't factor in to my current cash flow, which is what's important to me now.

Secondly, yes, I paid an initial investment. And to pay for that initial investment, I USED THE MONEY I WAS ALREADY PAYING AT Disney accommodations. So that was a wash for me....AND I CAN SELL IT today for almost what I paid for it....not quite though.

But that's OK by me. I never said it was the cheapest way you can do WDW. It certainly isn't. And if money is all that is important to a person, then DVC isn't a good choice.

 

[jodifla]

I can see that doing that would work..but while many have said, they enjoy the convenience of not having to search for deals and know their vacation is paid for - I LOVE searching for deals, and would be totally stressed worrying about having to rent out points. Also - again, I don't want to be tied to a Disney vacation every year or every other year. The other thing that makes it not work for me with the size of my family (5 kids) we would need a 2 bedroom every time which would mean I would need a sizable amount of points. A REALLY sizable amount if I was planning on doing what you do and rent them out to pay for the MF. Yep, works for some, but not for me. I also think it doesn't really work for many that have it and don't analyze it well. I have a friend that has DVC and she really isn't knowledgeable about her choices. She told me it paid itself off after a few trips. Again, she was comparing to rack rate and not to other options like Bonnet Creek. She uses her points to go on vacations elsewhere and on the cruise line and doesn't realize this really is not a good use of the money. Again, does absolutely no leg work searching pricing options. Searching for great deals on vacations is like my hobby. I totally get a high off getting a great vacation at a dirt cheap rate.

In my OP, I said clearly that DVC is a luxury, and sometimes it's worth it to spend the money. Nowhere did I say it was really cheap.

Again, I don't want to be at BC. Or on 192. Been there, done that, dozens of time. I want to be ON Disney property. And having DVC means I can do it at a price point that works for my family.

 

[SaraJayne]

First of all, I paid it 15 years ago. Doesn't factor in to my current cash flow, which is what's important to me now.

Secondly, yes, I paid an initial investment. And to pay for that initial investment, I USED THE MONEY I WAS ALREADY PAYING AT Disney accommodations. So that was a wash for me....AND I CAN SELL IT today for almost what I paid for it....not quite though.

But that's OK by me. I never said it was the cheapest way you can do WDW. It certainly isn't. And if money is all that is important to a person, then DVC isn't a good choice.

You're missing my point, but I don't think you're really too interested in hearing about it.

My point was she pays $800 for her week at BC (that's it and she's done)...you paid the initial $20,000 (or whatever amt it was) PLUS your yearly MF of $800.

So she's actually paying less than you, AND has the flexibility to not to be locked into vacationing at the same spot for 40 years.

 

[jodifla]

You're missing my point, but I don't think you're really too interested in hearing about it.

My point was she pays $800 for her week at BC (that's it and she's done)...you paid the initial $20,000 (or whatever amt it was) PLUS your yearly MF of $800.

So she's actually paying less than you, AND has the flexibility to not to be locked into vacationing at the same spot for 40 years.

First of all, it was about $10,000 - $12,000.


Secondly, she's staying at Bonnet Creek...which ain't Disney, no way, no how. You ALSO are not comparing apples to apples. She could save even MORE money staying at the Days Inn.

Everyone here can go ahead and miss the point....which is that sometimes, it's GREAT to SPEND your money on a LUXURY item that you ENJOY.

Me, I'm off to book my next DVC vacation!

 

[jodifla]

You're missing my point, but I don't think you're really too interested in hearing about it.

My point was she pays $800 for her week at BC (that's it and she's done)...you paid the initial $20,000 (or whatever amt it was) PLUS your yearly MF of $800.

So she's actually paying less than you, AND has the flexibility to not to be locked into vacationing at the same spot for 40 years.

ALso, you keep ignoring the fact that it's an asset I can sell. I bought a car near the same time.....that's now gone, with nothing to show for it. My DVC lasts for years and years more.

 

[perdidobay]

OP, I'm glad you are still enjoying your purchase of DVC 15 years after the fact, still enjoying WDW, and that it has turned out to be a good deal for you. I feel the same way after 10 years about our DVC purchase. That's all that really matters in the end, after all.

Since 1984 (our first trip to WDW) we've done el cheapo, off site, I Drive stays,
onsite moderate resort stays( packing a toaster and breakfast foods and eating the rest of our meals offsite), and since 2001, DVC stays with the dining plan.
They were all what worked for our budget at that time, and we enjoyed what we could afford at the time, but these days I'm happy we can afford our DVC main. fees and enjoy our onsite stays.

I used to love getting a great deal on vacations, and saving lots of money, but I feel with our current income and lack of spending in other areas of our life, we can splurge more on vacations than we used to.

 

[jodifla]

OP, I'm glad you are still enjoying your purchase of DVC 15 years after the fact, still enjoying WDW, and that it has turned out to be a good deal for you. I feel the same way after 10 years about our DVC purchase. That's all that really matters in the end, after all.

Since 1984 (our first trip to WDW) we've done el cheapo, off site, I Drive stays,
onsite moderate resort stays( packing a toaster and breakfast foods and eating the rest of our meals offsite), and since 2001, DVC stays with the dining plan.
They were all what worked for our budget at that time, and we enjoyed what we could afford at the time, but these days I'm happy we can afford our DVC main. fees and enjoy our onsite stays.

I used to love getting a great deal on vacations, and saving lots of money, but I feel with our current income and lack of spending in other areas of our life, we can splurge more on vacations than we used to.

Yes, these are all great points.

We feel the same way!