Why did you purchase DVC over purchasing Hilton or Marriott timeshare ? It looks like every other timeshare is wayyyy cheaper than DVC by the 1000s$

[marmentrout85]

Why did you purchase DVC over another timeshare company like marriott, Hilton, Wyndham. It looks like you can pay 5k for a week of points at Hilton grand vacation club unlike spending $20k+ for a DVC contract. I just purchased direct at Grand Villas and everyone I talk to thinks I’m insane to have spent over 50k on a dvc timeshare. Those people are owners of Hilton grand vacation club.

Yes, DVC happens to be a timeshare, but that's not why we purchased it. We weren't looking for a timeshare by any means. We bought DVC because it was the cheapest (long-term) way to stay at Disney's Deluxe (Villa) Resorts. I'd much rather stay in a studio at Bay Lake Tower, Grand Floridian, etc. rather than stay at POP Century or the All-Star Resorts for a roughly similar price per night.

 

[tom1944]

Does the Marriott timeshare work at Swan/Dolphin?

I purchased DVC because of its main location. If Marriott worked at Swan/Dolphin I might consider it.

 

[ShaneDJ]

Primary reason: about 50% cheaper (over time) to stay at Deluxe WDW properties.

Secondary reason: get a “free” Disney cruise every couple of years (using the DVC points swap via this board’s sponsor) using excess/unused DVC points.

For us, this secondary reason has become an equally valuable benefit to us as our primary reason that we bought in.

No regrets about DVC. In fact, we are constantly fighting the urge to add more DVC points!

 

[Chili327]

Which Grand Hilton resort can you walk to Epcot?

 

[supercarrie]

We bought into DVC because it is the best long term value to stay at deluxe resorts. We also are major credit card/travel hackers and you can use credit card points to stay at Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, etc. You cannot - to the same extent - do this for Disney deluxe properties.

We do one “big” Disney trip a year and typically one other “big” trip to another destination using credit card points for our hotel stay. Airfare for both is often covered by credit card points, too.

 

[mort1331]

We had been to many sales pitches by other companies,,,,it was our way of getting cheap weekend trips. I never minded the sales pitches and even had fun as they came up with other ways to keep us in the rooms for extended times.
Best ever was one from a phone call and told them on that call and on the other 3 before we made our way up to the resort,,,,we have a small dog and will be bringing with us. They told us they had some dog friendly rooms. Walked into the resort with dog on leash, everyone was looking at us and wondering what was going on. Main sales man comes up to us and tells us we cant have a dog here. Laughed at him and go check your tapes,,told him we said we were bringing our dog and were told we could. Left came back and said sorry for the confusion, we will put you up in another resort. and asked if we wanted to see the sales presentation. Politely declined the presentation and excepted the room and had a wonderful weekend.
Come to WDW for the 1st time, 2 days of pouring rain,,,before we knew this is the best time to goto the parks,,,and saw there booths for tours and $100gc for taking a tour. Signed up did the tour, enjoyed the $100 but did not sign.
We knew that TShares are only good if you use them. Ended up coming back to WDW 3 times in the next 2 years and said ,,yup we will be back and I knew my wife wanted more then the Mods we were staying in,,,I liked them,,,but who am I.
Did online research,,found out about resale and the ins and outs,,,just missed full grandfathering of points, but made it in before the next round,,so have the blue Y cards.
We have been so happy since and been able to goto Hawaii, which we never would have been able to do before hand, and many other places.
Still travel to non Disney so the kids get full rounded,,but always come Home.
Still do sales presentation for freebies, did ones in Vegas for show tickets,,,,hey I dont like mid day heat, so let me sit and eat at a presentation and get me tickets to a show after,,sign me up.

 

[CarolynFH]

My introduction to timeshares came from my parents, who bought into a TS on the Big Island of Hawaii. They also bought into several Marriott locations, and my family benefited by staying with them on multiple occasions. DH and I bought DVC when it became evident that we’d be visiting (or at least wanting to visit) every year, our family of four no longer fit comfortably in a single hotel room, and we wanted to be able to enjoy a 2BR instead. DVC was the way to accomplish that, and we’ve often said that it’s the best thing we did for our family (after basics like education, etc.).

We were lucky that my parents had those other TS, because it allowed us to spend a week at WDW and a week elsewhere every year!

 

[limace]

We have both. DVC, mostly resale, for VGC and Aulani and occasional WDW stays. And then a week a year at an independent resort we love in Central Oregon-go every year though we can exchange if we want to. The units there are nicer, tbh, than DVC units and my husband and daughter love to golf there. Got that one for free with first two years of maintenance fees paid by seller and now costs about $900 a year for a two story, 2 bedroom unit. I love my DVC but love this other resort too-my family enjoys relaxing vacations and Disney def isn’t that for us. I am considering some resale Worldmark points as it’s great for West coast vacations. I’d like something we could use for Maui, too-Aulani is gorgeous but we much prefer Maui for longer hawaii vacations to Oahu. TUG is your friend!

 

[Brian Noble]

Why did you purchase DVC over another timeshare company like marriott, Hilton, Wyndham.

I think the first question is "should I consider buying a timeshare". A timeshare is, IMO, a good fit for someone who:

1. can commit to going on at least one "significant" vacation every year,
2. does not expect large (negative) changes in income or health, and
3. prefers condo-style accomodations to hotel rooms when possible.

If you can say yes to all of those things, then trhe next question is "should that timeshare be DVC". IMO, DVC is a good fit for someone who:

1. is a committed Disney fan,
2. wants to visit WDW at least every other year for at least the next 10+ years,
3. would never consider staying offsite, and
4. rarely if ever stays in a Value resort.

If someone can't say yes to all of those, then it is likely you'd be better off taking your Disney trips some other way---renting from a DVC owner, booking a regular hotel room, staying offsite, mixing between different Disney destinations, etc.

There is an even smaller group of people for whom an ownership at DLR makes sense. Those people cannot imagine staying at any of the various hotels on Harbor Blvd within easy walking distance of the Esplanade, but absolutely must stay in a Disney-owned hotel.

Aulani, Vero, or HHI are even smaller-niche products, because there are a LOT of great resorts all over Hawaii, Atlantic coastal Florida, and Hilton Head respectively.

----------------
I bought my first timeshare in late 2006, when my kids were four and six. At the moment I own five different ones. All were purchased resale. Owning timeshare made it possible for us to take vacations I would never have paid for out of pocket.

More importantly, the "use it or lose it" nature of timeshare helped me make taking vacations a priority. That's a big change from how I used to be. Early in my career as a Professor, my Department Chair asked me where I was going on vacation that summer, and I answered, "Oh, I don't take vacations." And, I meant it.

I went from "that guy" to someone who, next month, is tacking on a five night stay at Wyndham Canterbury in San Francisco to explore the city with my LA-based son---in part because I had some points in RCI that I needed to use by the end of this year. In the next year or two, I'll be downsizing from five to one or probably two. One of my resorts is likely to cease operations soon, and divorce is going to claim some of the rest. My kids are now early in their careers, and will have both more limited vacation time and a desire to spend at least some of that vacationing withoutr either parent in tow. As they get more established I may add to the portfolio again. Or I might not. Time will tell.

 

[Brian Noble]

Does the Marriott timeshare work at Swan/Dolphin?

No---at least, not in a way that would make good dollars-and-cents sense.

The closest Marriott timeshares are probably the three Palms resorts at World Gateway--just past the entry gates on World Center Drive. Vistana Resort (not Villages) is just a bit farther, and still in a great location.

The closest non-Disney timeshare is probably Wyndham Bonnet Creek. It "feels like" it is on Disney property, but it isn't. It is landlocked by Disney on three sides, and I-4 on the fourth, so the only way in/out is off Buena Vista Drive. If you've ever stayed at OKW or SSR, you've probably driven by the Bonnet Creek entrance at least a few times.

 

[walt34]

I think the first question is "should I consider buying a timeshare". A timeshare is, IMO, a good fit for someone who:

1. can commit to going on at least one "significant" vacation every year,
2. does not expect large (negative) changes in income or health, and
3. prefers condo-style accomodations to hotel rooms when possible.

If you can say yes to all of those things, then trhe next question is "should that timeshare be DVC". IMO, DVC is a good fit for someone who:

1. is a committed Disney fan,
2. wants to visit WDW at least every other year for at least the next 10+ years,
3. would never consider staying offsite, and
4. rarely if ever stays in a Value resort.

If someone can't say yes to all of those, then it

I concur with most points. I'm not sure you necessarily have to prefer condos as DVC studios are usually good value even when compared to hotel rooms at the same or similar locations. Not sure about other timeshares.

No 4 I would rather put as 'sees the value a deluxe offers as compared to a value resort'. It's not necessarily connected to your past/current travel patterns and more to whether the upgrade in accomodation will be worth it to you.

Just my perspective.

 

[Brian Noble]

Almost no other timeshare system focuses on studios (aka "glorified hotel rooms") in the way Disney does. Part of that is how the system is structured, in that studios are horribly under-pointed compared to the Villas as measured by market rents.

But IMO more of it is how the sales perspective has evolved. In the early days---back when OKW was just "the Disney Vacation Club Resort"---it was marketed much more like a "traditional" timeshare with a focus on the Villas. Indeed, the classification Disney used to describe the DVC collection was originally the "Home Away Fom Home" resorts instead of the "Deluxe Villa" resorts.

Over time, it has been marketed more and more as a "replacement" for hotel stays. I suspect this shift was necessary to scale the system out given its other limitations.

 

[D-Trick]

And then a week a year at an independent resort we love in Central Oregon-go every year though we can exchange if we want to. The units there are nicer, tbh, than DVC units and my husband and daughter love to golf there.

By chance is this Eagle Crest? Stayed there in April on an II Getaway and loved it... the wife especially because she finally broke 100.

 

[walt34]

Almost no other timeshare system focuses on studios (aka "glorified hotel rooms") in the way Disney does. Part of that is how the system is structured, in that studios are horribly under-pointed compared to the Villas as measured by market rents.

As if Disney wanted to say: you are going to spend the money, either in our restaurants or on the point premium for your 1BR.

I would assume that a larger percentage of WDW visitors decides to go to the many WDW restaurants rather than cooking themselves (myself included) than guest would in many other timeshare locations which could explain the different balance of room types.

 

[FrancisK7]

Is it possible to rent your Hilton or Marriott points at a profit the years you do not use them?

 

[Brian Noble]

In most cases, yes. Quite a few people on TUG have a modest side gig doing this.

 

[limace]

By chance is this Eagle Crest? Stayed there in April on an II Getaway and loved it... the wife especially because she finally broke 100.

It is! Such a great resort. I don’t golf but love early morning walks and sitting on the patio with a book and a beverage while they play. And their kitchens are so well equipped.

 

[FrancisK7]

In most cases, yes. Quite a few people on TUG have a modest side gig doing this.

Interesting. I might look into the Hyatt resale contract market then.

If resale contracts appreciate over time like resale DVC contracts have in the past, AND there is enough demand to rent your unused points the years you do not go without too much hassle, they're very manageable risks imho.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare?

 

[enk8fe5w]

So I've been looking into both recently. Did one of the presentation deals with the Marriott down the street from Aulani back in March, and the guy giving the presentation gave really deceptive answers (e.g., can you resell? Sure, but they won't tell you that Marriott charges tens of thousands in transfer fees, so there's no real resale market because they ROFR everything when you drop the price to nothing to account for the fees).

But, we ended up doing a character breakfast and a dinner at Aulani and the quality of the resort is just night and day. We did a tour of the model and got on the list for the member party that night, which our five year old went bananas for (dance party + no lines for photos with ALL the characters). That's when I started going down the rabbit hole reading everything I can here, and I'm pretty sure we'll end up buying DVC resale sometimes in the next few months. The resale value alone is the single biggest advantage I see vs. Marriott - I can at least recoup a good chunk of the initial investment if we decide it's not a good fit.