Why Dont you do DVC??

[Colleen27]

You can't really count that as $140/week when you're paying maintenance fees every year. That would need to be added in there somewhere.

Not that I'm anti-DVC, but I am anti-kitchen and laundry while I'm on vacation! We will probably do this eventually, but for right now, I'm quite happy going to WDW several times a year and paying to stay at a variety of resorts so that I can experience them all using the discounts Disney provides. I like the variety of options I have now and if I decide that I want to take a vacation for the next few days starting tomorrow, then I can call WDW and get a room without having to say I didn't get to go because I couldn't get a room on my points.

I don't cook or do laundry on vacation either, but there's something to be said for a full-sized fridge/freezer in a resort room! Particularly if you enjoy the occasional adult beverage, having ice for mixed drinks and a fridge for beer is quite lovely. And in the mornings, a full sized coffee pot is a big step up from making several pots in that tiny little 4-cup thing that's in the standard rooms.

The issue of short-notice availability is one of my hesitations. We usually plan several months in advance, but seldom as far as 11mo out, and sometimes take last minute trips if airfare deals line up with work schedules just right. But it does seem like there's almost always availability at SSR, so in most cases I think it would be a matter of staying at a resort that you might not care much for rather than not going at all.

 

[RMulieri]

I'm finding a little humor in this since your next trip is stated to be at the BCV!!

True, and I stay there pretty often..But at 30-40% off discount or I rent points from my BIL which makes it far ,far cheaper for me.I can't see the point in shelling out that kind of money up front for DVC right now when I am close to paying off my mortgage, have no debt and no loans.I may eventually buy into it( if I can get a re-sale at BCV), but for now it suits me fine.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

1) The buy in price is ridiculous.
2) We don't have the need to feel like we're at home while we're on vacation. We like to feel like we're on vacation.
3) We like to stay at GF.
4) Not enough perks for the astronomical price.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I always think about it and am very tempted each time we go... But, we don't use credit unless it is an emergency. We definitely can't outright afford the enite cost of DVC. So, I just watch for good "deals". We prefer to stay at Deluxes, but go with what works for us at the time. I sometimes feel like a Disney trip is an emergency though, get me out of here!

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Some of the reasons that you don't like dvc is why we like it. We do find it economical. I don't like the full sized beds in the value or moderates. They are just to small. I don't like bumping into others. The deluxe hotel rooms are nice but expensive and I prefer a one or two bedroom. I also like the extra room it afords me. I don't want to have to go to bed the same time as my kids. I like having extra room to move around and relax if that is what I want to do I have the room. I don't like HAVING to eat out all the time. Way to much food on a regular basis. Have you priced a weeklong vacation to the cape. Renting a house there would cost me a fortune and I wouldn't have the pool. Likewise a ski vacation is costly and the price of renting equipment if you don't have it and lift tickets is easily comparable to park tickets. So yes it does make sense for many. I have tried the moderates and values. So I feel I can wisley make my claim. If you have not stayed dvc then please don't asume you know all about it. There is something for everyone out there. Just because dvc is the right fit for some does not mean it is right for all. The values and moderates are right for some ,deluxes others, even offsite for still othersbut for me it is dvc so don't belittle someones choice. Okay I have said my peace. Hope I didn't offend anyone.

 

[RMulieri]

I have 3 DVC contracts, paid in cash, and pay a little over $2000 per year in dues. We bought our first contract over 15 years ago.

I regret my DVC purchase. Hard to say that on a Disney board because I've been told more than once I'm crazy when I have said this. But I think people considering it should think about it.

45-50 years is a long time to vacation at the same place. We have over 20 visits to WDW. Our children are now out of the house and quite honestly, all 3 of them prefer going to the beach over going to WDW. So we have enough points to go for 5 weeks a year and nobody wants to use them.

There was a time when I thought we'd never want to vacation anywhere except WDW. Now we do. The DVC points are not a good trade to use elsewhere and if you want to use them outside of the Disney umbrella, it can be very difficult/requires lots of flexibility and advance notice.

I realize that some people are satisfied going to WDW every year forever. I often wonder on here, though, how many of the vocal fans of DVC have owned 5 years or less? At that point in our contracts, I thought WDW was the only place to vacation too.

My BIL said the same thing..We rent his points now and then since he simply doesn't want to go as much these days.

 

[livie1205]

I had a co-worker who is a DVC member asking me the same question for years since we averaged 3-4 visits per year. At the time we were both still in school and could not afford the cost up front. What tipped the scale for us was the first time we stayed at BWV. WDW was offering a deal at the time on studios so we booked to try it out and were then upgraded to a 1BR...SOLD! We loved the extra room and amenities over just a regular hotel room. Even when it was only 2 of us, we booked 1BRs to be more comfortable and for the whirlpool tub! We love the conveinence of calling up Disney, picking a room and saying just take my points. Everything is already budgeted for with the monthly dues ($3-4 per point depending on resort). No more constantly chasing deals which never seem to be available when we want to go.

If one is looking for enough perks to justify DVC, then it's probabaly not for you. DVC isn't about perks it is about pre-paid family vacations in deluxe accommodations.

We also have APs which means whenever we take a trip the room and passes are already paid for so all we need to do is get there and eat basically. Friends wonder how we can afford to go so often and it is all because of DVC! Now that we do have a DD, the 1BRs are SO much more convenient for afternoon naps while allowing us to have some down time without worrying about waking the baby. Of course, now that BLT is open, we don't want to stay anywhere else for awhile as MK access is a huge perk!

Of course, we still stay outside DVC resorts occasionally too (that's where the AP discounts come into play!). We decided on a last miute trip in August to see the Main Street Electrical Parade (before it was extended) and the Summernightastic fireworks and got a great rate at the Polynesian with the AP discount.

What's nice about WDW is that there are many options to fit most every situation. Just pick what works best for your family and have a great time!



It's not really fair to say someone is paying $14000 a year to stay at Disney. Divide that by the 50 years the membership is good = $280 per year so now the original poster is paying $1180 for 2 weeks of deluxe accommodations at WDW. The cost of DVC rooms range from $150 (studios with pins) to over $600 per night (non-DVC deluxe rooms start higher). Still looks like a pretty good savings to me especially when you look at how much room prices have gone up in the 15 years since the OP joined. I remember the days of staying at GF for $150/night...not any more! Most DVCers are also AP holders due to the large DVC discount which adds even more perks and decreases the ticket cost per day. This year alone we will have gotten almost 30 days use on our APs. Getting there should be about the same price whether a family is DVC or not so that shouldn't even come into the equation IMHO.

of course I know they are not paying 14,000 a year..i mean they are paying that then more then 900.00 a year in fees...NOT worth it...

 

[sharadoc]

We don't for these reasons:

1. We're too old now. We won't be able to use the membership for 45 years.
2. We go twice a year, as long as there are discounts available. We would need too many points for those trips.
3. The maintenance fees for those points plus an annual payment on the DVC points would be MUCH more than our discounted stays on cash.
4. I get to choose where I stay as long as I plan it in advance, instead of only being able to book my home resort, then "hoping" I'll get in to my actual choice.
5. Don't want to be locked in. Right now, we love going with the kids, but if they drop out and don't want to go as often we would be wasting the DVC membership points.

I think it's great for folks who are early 30's and under, who can pay cash for the points so they only pay maintenance fees, and don't need a ton of points. It will be worth the investment for those folks. I wish we had jumped in back when BWV was just opening and we took the tour. But now, too late.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Too costly.

My family is not a Disney nut like I am, so most of my trips are solo. I am always able to get room discount. I have crunched the numbers more than once (I am a career financial planner) and they do not work for me.

(not to be taken as financial advice)

 

[Colleen27]

I have 3 DVC contracts, paid in cash, and pay a little over $2000 per year in dues. We bought our first contract over 15 years ago.

I regret my DVC purchase. Hard to say that on a Disney board because I've been told more than once I'm crazy when I have said this. But I think people considering it should think about it.

45-50 years is a long time to vacation at the same place. We have over 20 visits to WDW. Our children are now out of the house and quite honestly, all 3 of them prefer going to the beach over going to WDW. So we have enough points to go for 5 weeks a year and nobody wants to use them.

There was a time when I thought we'd never want to vacation anywhere except WDW. Now we do. The DVC points are not a good trade to use elsewhere and if you want to use them outside of the Disney umbrella, it can be very difficult/requires lots of flexibility and advance notice.

I realize that some people are satisfied going to WDW every year forever. I often wonder on here, though, how many of the vocal fans of DVC have owned 5 years or less? At that point in our contracts, I thought WDW was the only place to vacation too.

Wow, that is a lot of points! We're thinking 200, 250 at the most, just enough to go once a year with our kids or bank/borrow to go every other year in a bigger unit with extended family.

I do appreciate seeing the other side. That's one of the things DH is concerned with, since he's not as big a Disney fan as I am, though the resort at Hilton Head pretty much covers his other vacation preferences (beach and golf). And that's how we came to the number of points we're thinking of buying - enough to go fairly frequently, but not so much that we feel like we're wasting money going anywhere else because we've still got points left to use.

 

[BLTLDZ]

DVC is definitely not for everyone. But anyone who wants to make the argument that it's cheaper to stay at deluxe resorts often without DVC is simply misinformed.

Even with pin codes and specials, I haven't many deals that come close to my total costs.

You can keep the "free" dining, I'd rather have my DVC!

My sentiments exactly!!

 

[BLTLDZ]

2nd this-The deals disney has been having are much better savings and perks than the DVC lately.

Ah, but the operative word is LATELY Who knows that they will always have these "deals" when the economy "picks back up"? But, the other side of the argument is just as vaild.

Just playing devils advocate....For us, we love our DVC!!!!!!!!!

 

[RMulieri]

Ah, but the operative word is LATELY Who knows that they will always have these "deals" when the economy "picks back up"? But, the other side of the argument is just as vaild.

Just playing devils advocate....For us, we love our DVC!!!!!!!!!

Oh I know..But between the discounts and renting points from my BIL when I can't get a discount, it makes no sense buying right now.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Ah, but the operative word is LATELY Who knows that they will always have these "deals" when the economy "picks back up"? But, the other side of the argument is just as vaild.

Just playing devils advocate....For us, we love our DVC!!!!!!!!!

Essentially, yes, they will have these deals when the economy picks back up. Once you introduce a discount, once you get your customers to expect it, you usually don't back off.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We prefer to stay offsite on our trips that are more than five days, so we bought an offsite timeshare instead of DVC.

 

[Pakey]

You're not stuck with them, you can always sell em off.

My BCV points are the only ones I own that are not in the toilet right now on the resale market but I have large point contracts and there's not much market for those either. We will sell if the value comes up but I'm not willing to give them away just yet. I may change my tune in 2011 when I struggle to figure out what to do with all of the 2010 points I banked/must use.

 

[MrsLS]

I looked into it and it wasn't for us, plus I don't know if I'd want to go every year 15 years from now and you still have to pay a maintenace fee. Right now getting the discounts on the rooms isn't worth getting DVC. I looked at the numbers and it wasn't worth it (for us). & I like daily cleaning/new towels/made bed/etc.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

reasons why DVC isn't for us:
-we like the value resorts

Comparing a DVC room to a "regular" resort room is NOT comparing apples to apples when comparing pricing and "value". A Studio DVC villa has a kitchenette like a Value Family Suite and free use of a washer and dryer.

-The upfront cost is INSANE, let alone the yearly fee's on top of that

If it were that expensive, no one would buy into it. We crunched the numbers and to us (a family of five that likes to visit WDW and/or DLR every year or every other year) it has actually saved us money on our Disney vacations. Like someone mentioned, we get a DVC discount on Annual Passes x's that discount by 5 = a lot of $$$$$ saved! Also, we get AP and/or DVC discounts on most restaurants and stores on property. An added savings for each vacation. Our park tickets and room are already "pre-paid" when we show up! So, all we have to worry about is paying for all the ADRs I book.

-we don't go to Disney every year, we tend to go every other year and other places the alternating year.

You can bank point from your current year or sell them resale. DH has a coworker that doesn't go to WDW every year but is a DVC Member. He sells his points (for a profit) and uses that money for his vacation that year. Win, win situation for him.

-You pay a ton and they don't even clean your room, take out your garbage, make your bed, or give you fresh towels daily. I like mouskeeping when on vacation. I don't want to do all that stuff when I'm on vacation, let alone have time when at Disney. Plus I would never get any towel animals then, and my kids like to come back to the room and find their stuffed animals doing funny things (like holding the remote, or peeking out the window).
-there's just that little extra magic from mouskeeping when staying at the resorts, vs DVC units.

You still get towel animals with a DVC villa. Sometimes two or three sitting on top of the tv hutch. They do clean your room on the third day of your stay which is fine with me. I am a person that does not like strangers in our room too much. They bring clean towels and more laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent. There is a vaccum and broom in the room at all times if needed. Mousekeeping really hasn't been an issue with us. My only upkeep problem during our week stays has been trash. Those small trash cans fill up quickly. So, I put full trashbags outside our door and they are picked up. Problem solved.

Yes, DVC is NOT for everyone. You have all made some compelling and personal opinions as to why it is not right for you or your family. For us, it was the right decision and I have no regrets.

We've been DVC Members (home resort AKV) since 2007, my only true complaint is that ... we didn't do it sooner. I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true.

We know "Disney's Best Kept Secret!"

With all that said, if you like to do Disney on a budget, DVC is not right for you. Once you have a two-bedroom villa, it is so hard to go back to a regular room.

Jennifer

(PS - I love my washer and dryer in the room. With three kids, that sold me. I put a load in while we are in the parks. )

 

[BLTLDZ]

Oh I know..But between the discounts and renting points from my BIL when I can't get a discount, it makes no sense buying right now.

Understood .

 

[BLTLDZ]

Essentially, yes, they will have these deals when the economy picks back up. Once you introduce a discount, once you get your customers to expect it, you usually don't back off.

You are right, but they may not be as good.