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$

[MagicDVC]

Because we liked to travel to Disney and are able to do a staycation at Aulani when we visit family. Also, the quality of accomodations are tremendously better than the competitors, even though it's slipped for a few years, still better.

 

[bakerworld]

We did lots of timeshare presentations for the free gifts and reduced holidays before joining DVC. We bought as Empty Nesters. We found, at that time, the DVC setup to be user friendly and very relaxing - lots to do without every leaving the property, no driving needed, grocery delivery available so food wasn't a huge expense and park tickets back then were very inexpensive compared to now. For us it wasn't a big expense.

My eldest sister owned two timeshares. She said they were a lot of work to use and not worth anything, as she tried to sell hers twice. Eventually, they abandoned them both. My other sister bought a 'boutique' TS at St Pete's Beach and was able to sell it 10 years later to another member for above her costs.

 

[Genie+]

The biggest difference between deciding on DVC or another timeshare was knowing our family would keep going back to WDW with strong preference to stay in the bubble. The learning curve was limited to that.

Other timeshares would be much more complicated figuring out cost/benefit, pros/cons, strategies across different brands, etc. The freedom to go in any direction for other US and international trips is a better fit for us. It’s highly likely we’ll hit WDW every year or two; I’m much less certain about other destinations in 3, 5, 10+ years. I have an idea about some of those but I’m not ready to box myself into one brand there either. I have a whole world of locations to choose from, if one doesn’t have any decent deals now there’s a thousand more. I can pick a hotel, a rental, timeshare let… on and on. If we want a certain neighborhood or view or season, we can look at all the different options.

 

[MeridaMonkey]

Watching the hoops that my in-laws had to jump through both to use and then to get rid of their Marriott Vacation Club timeshare pretty much cured me of ever wanting any timeshare product other than DVC.

I like the fixed end-date and the knowledge that we can either use our DVC contracts through to their natural conclusion or sell them when we’re done with them and get at least some money back (unlike my in-laws, who actually had to pay to get rid of their Marriott timeshare)….

 

[Tatebeck]

Same reason I purchased a car instead of a bike! lol.

Yes it's more expensive, but it does a lot more of what I need it to do, and I can sell it to recoup a decent amount of the money down the line if I need to (assuming you pay for it outright or make a large downpayment and don't finance the whole thing)

 

[CarolynFH]

At the time we bought DVC, my parents owned a Shell TS in Hawaii and several Marriott TS, and we had stayed with them in multiple locations. We bought DVC on our fourth annual visit because it was clear that we would continue to visit every year, plus we had been exposed to the benefits of a TS villa vs. a single hotel room for the four of us, and we saw DVC as a way to prepay our lodging for those annual visits. Resale, neither as a way to purchase nor as a way to dispose of DVC, didn’t cross our minds.

 

[T00dles]

My dad got tired of smelling my stinky sneakers while sharing a hotel room at Port Orleans. DVC Villas have advantages.

We love the mouse, so DVC it is for us.

 

[disneylandtour]

Simple answer - Do I want to walk, take a monorail or boat to the Magic Kingdom, or do I want to get in a rental car, drive a few miles, park it, and then take a parking lot tram up to the place where I wait to get on a boat or monorail?

 

[Genie+]

My dad got tired of smelling my stinky sneakers while sharing a hotel room at Port Orleans. DVC Villas have advantages.

We love the mouse, so DVC it is for us.

DVC - When you just can’t deal with stinky sneakers (or bathrooms) anymore™

 

[T00dles]

DVC - When you just can’t deal with stinky sneakers (or bathrooms) anymore™

Perfect! I forgot about the bathroom advantages. No more "heading down to the lobby to find a bathroom".

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Location and flexibility. We were never going to buy a timeshare until coming across the DVC approach in the 90s. It fit something we wanted to do..... we have never regretted it!

 

[Flash_Sloth]

We own DVC and Hilton Grand Vacations. We love being so close to the magic when staying at DVC properties, and the perks vs staying off site are pretty nice. And we love taking vacations lots of other places with HGV; their rooms & amenities are better than you'd find at many hotels. When we're running low on DVC points, or if we're doing non-WDW things around Orlando, we've stayed in Orlando at some of HGV's properties.

They are very different timeshares, and you have to know how to get the most out of each. I'm pleased with both of them.

 

[kanerf]

I too enjoy staying in my DVC properties. I like a relaxing visit to WDW where I don't have to rush around to see everything in a short time. With DVC, I often go back to my villa for lunch and return to the parks in the afternoon. That is hard to do with an off-site resort. In addition DVC is one of the very few timeshares that has a resale value and is easy to sell.

 

[samsp99]

Why do you think the resale values of other timeshares are minimal compared to dvc ? Do you think it’s because of ROFR ?

Compare the Expedia price for rooms with the annual fees for the specific timeshare. The costs to stay in a deluxe resort at WDW are stupidly high. Running the numbers on the cost of DVC for the purchase (resale) and the maintenance fees, the payoff is pretty good. The limited lifespan for DVC is actually a blessing - it put a cap on how long a commitment I have.

Most timeshares are available for rent from the ownership company for prices that are not far off the maintenance fees, and so the value is not there, especially if you are going to get locked in forever.

 

[intamin]

Perfect! I forgot about the bathroom advantages. No more "heading down to the lobby to find a bathroom".

I DON’T miss that when you’re sharing a bathroom with friends and someone’s like my bad.. I just blew up the toilet..

 

[Cfabar1]

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.

it does, but you don't want to use the membership that way is my understanding....

 

[Chili327]

it does, but you don't want to use the membership that way is my understanding....

It must not be worth it, otherwise everyone would be getting it!!

 

[Cfabar1]

Sure you could’ve gotten a cheaper timeshare, there’s plenty throughout Orlando but also your resale value would be a lot lower and possibly some have extra associated fees with reselling some of these as was mentioned earlier in the thread and I’m sorry but timeshare exit companies wouldn’t exist if it was easy to sell like DVC is.

Orlando specifically is a rough market for timeshares because there are so many options.

Add the cash prices on Interval getaways/even direct purchases from places like Marriott Bonvoy - and buying a Marriott timeshare - even resale is a tough proposition.

 

[crisi]

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.

Because when we bought 25 years ago, we bought for Disney vacations on site and Disney vacations on site only. Since then, we've shifted points usage to DVC HHI. But DVC was the only way at that time to end up consistently staying on property in a multi room unit for what was then a reasonable price. And I didn't pay $50k 25 years ago. I paid less than $10k for 150 BWV points which has been plenty for our every other year schedule.

I travel a LOT around the world, and have never looked into another timeshare because I really prefer hotel travel and the flexibility of cash to get me what I want where I want it. The equation for Disney when our kids were 2 and 3 was different, we knew we'd be taking regular trips for at least a decade. Now heading into our 60s, river cruises around Europe, small group tours and luxury hotels are more our cup of tea.

If I were making the decision today with today's dollars, I wouldn't buy. But Disney and the economy are different beasts than they were in the early 2000 when we paid for DVC with a bonus.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

To stay at Disney resorts, within the bubble and very close to the parks