Why DVC?

[sleepyone]

[/QUOTE]
Personally, I think your big driver has to be changing the way you vacation....not saving money. If you want to save money, there are better ways (offsite, moderates, perhaps even codes) without making the long term committment to a timeshare.[/QUOTE] When we go to WDW we are usually not trying to save money as far as the room goes. Our last visit was at AKL (with 5). We have no interest in staying offsite or at a value resort. But, what I'm trying to do is get info so that I can convince dh that DVC is a "good buy" for us. One major selling point for me is that we can get a 3-BR villa and have my parents along for the magic and to have a baby-sitter for a night and not have to worry about getting rooms for 7 at a deluxe resort. DVC would be cost effective for us in that way. I also like the idea of a washer and dryer at the villa.

 

[drakester]

If I didn't own I know when we visit we would stay in a value resort. No laying in the hot tub after a long day in the park. But the best reason for me. I Know we would not go as often. Now we get to go at least every other year. On off years we spend a wonderfully relaxing week at Hilton Head. My 7 year old says she likes it there better than WDW.

 

[MHDTS]

We purchased at OKW 13 years ago....as I recall we were about the 300th buyer. We just happened to decide to go to the sales center on a rainy Sunday, and an hour and a half later we were proud DVC members.

Since then, we have use points and stayed at Disney Resorts including every upscale hotel; we have stayed at every new DVC resort as it came online. We have taken three cruises with points. We have had ten family members stay at OKW Grand Villas twice at Christmastime -- some of the best family gatherings we have ever and will ever experience.

For the first eight years of ownership, we got park passes with each stay, which meant we didn't have to buy annual passes.

This year, we will visit DW three times: twice with kids, once without, because we love the restaurants and landscaping as much as much as we do the parks and rides.

We did not buy DVC as an investment. We bought it because we thought WDW was and is a wonderful place to vacation. Imagine our delight as the international Disney resorts and the Cruise Ships were added to the membership!!

If we should decide to sell our DVC membership (which we won't), we are told that we will get far more than what we paid for it -- and that's after 13 years of magic.

Now, you all decide -- is it worth it? We think so!!

 

[FreeTime]

We bought DVC when our 1st baby was on the way. We had been to WDW 3 times prior, staying offsite. Our decision to buy was because we wanting to take our kids some place nice for years to come and make great memories together. We also thought that since we would pay DVC off quickly, the only expense that we would have were annual dues. This meant that if for some reason we couldn't afford to get park passes, etc., we felt we could still go to the world and hang out in our nice 2 BR and the cool pool. Fortunately, we have never found that we couldn't afford the passes, but if that happens, hopefully we can save for a couple of tanks of gas to get us there and the money we would spend on groceries at home we will use in Florida.

Also, we have been able to take both of your families on trips. One family had only been on 1 vacation with their kids and they were 12 when they went with us. It was great seeing them have such a good time.

As for food, we find that we save a lot. We usually go to Publix and spend about $100 for the week on groceries. We eat breakfast in the room with the exception of one character breakfast, we are usually ready for a break around 11:30 so we had back to the villa and fix sandwiches, pizza, subs, etc for lunch. We sometimes eat dinner in the room as well if it is a pool or outlet mall day. We always take water into the park with us.

We have also found out that we have added on 2X. We have our initial 200 point contract and then 2-100 point ones. When our kids grow up, we plan on letting them each use 100 points a year. I think this will be a great gift for them when starting a family.

However, to us, the most important savings, is the savings of memories and photos of our trip.

Just keep researching, if you have a trip planned, go on a tour before you buy, or call and request the video. Don't worry they won't call you or pressure you to buy.

 

[DisneyBill]

Odd how this thread came up, because we're leaving for a 6 nite stay at BWV in a Boardwalk View room in early April. As a matter of curiousity (and to make myself feel better, of course) I looked up the current rack rate for a 2 bedroom unit. It is $6348. and you can never even get a Boardwalk View room with cash. The point value was 275 points. So, I'm happy.

 

[sagwanamu]

I am somewhat surprised that no one (this thread and other threads) mentions about resale value.

God knows what happens after 10 - 20 years being DVC. You may be somewhat tired of going WDW every time and you want to go somewhere else that you can't trade with II. You might want to sell your DVC.

After 20 years, God knows how much it will cost per point, but even say 30 - 40 dollars per point (given that SSR is 50 years cocntract), your break even point may be a lot earlier than you might imagine.

When I bought SSR last year, I didn't even took out my calculator and didn't do any calculation. I just loved WDW and SSR and that's only reason why I bought and I bet many of you did for the same reason.

Wheater you hold the contract to the end of term or sell earlier, with people calculating the break even point to be about 10 (+/-) years, I am pretty confident that I won't spend more than staying on Cash, onsite, by being DVC owner.

Good luck with your calculation and let us know what you decide....

 

[DrTomorrow]

I am somewhat surprised that no one (this thread and other threads) mentions about resale value. [...]

Well, I think we're a little cautious about suggesting that as a reason to buy. Although DVC has gone up in value, that is - while not unique - not the general rule regarding timeshares. Also, we are at the whims of Disney; if they decided at any point that they are getting out of the resale business - therefore declining to exercise ROFR any more - then prices may drop. There is also the uncertainly as to what happens when the 50 years are up.

Along the lines of your thought, though - I suggest that, on that sad day when you get sick of Disney , you consider renting out your points on an annual basis instead of selling. Unless you needed the lump sum immediately, it would provide a nice little income stream....

Be well!

 

[SoCalKDG]

The reason I used the WL was because they will allow 5 in a room. I understand you have to get a 2-BR Villa to house 5. Right? So, that's why I'm comparing the two, I understand the difference and the size. I just picked any deluxe that would house 5. For those of you who at least have one meal at a villa, how much do you find you're saving on food?

You can put 5 into a 1 bedroom per Disney. That will get you approx. 750 sq. ft at 2/3's the points.

You can also extend your points by not staying on weekends. Weekends are approx. double the cost of weekdays.

 

[the kabuki]

I also had the same questions as the original poster. When I first read the information packet about DVC, I wondered why in the world anyone would pay a starting amount of $14k for a timeshare. Now that I've read DVC owners' views I understand a little better.

One thing though, everyone talks about going to Disney every year, do you ever go anywhere else with the DVC? In the booklet it shows tons of different places to stay that are part of DVC, yet I don't notice anyone mentioning those places.

 

[sleepyone]

I also had the same questions as the original poster. When I first read the information packet about DVC, I wondered why in the world anyone would pay a starting amount of $14k for a timeshare. Now that I've read DVC owners' views I understand a little better.

One thing though, everyone talks about going to Disney every year, do you ever go anywhere else with the DVC? In the booklet it shows tons of different places to stay that are part of DVC, yet I don't notice anyone mentioning those places.

That was going to be my next question. Also, if you don't go to the other places why not? Does it cost more points?

 

[sleepyone]

You can put 5 into a 1 bedroom per Disney. That will get you approx. 750 sq. ft at 2/3's the points.

You can also extend your points by not staying on weekends. Weekends are approx. double the cost of weekdays.

At the WDW website, it reads up to 4 in a 1-BR. I wouldn't want to get to the Villa with my family of 5 and find out a 1-BR only houses 4. Right now we're 2 adults, 8dd, 3dd, 1ds.

 

[beattyfamily]

At the WDW website, it reads up to 4 in a 1-BR. I wouldn't want to get to the Villa with my family of 5 and find out a 1-BR only houses 4. Right now we're 2 adults, 8dd, 3dd, 1ds.

Your family size would be very comfortable in a one bedroom, IMHO. The bedroom has a king size bed and the living room has a queen size sleeper sofa and then there's a pack and play in the closet.

I went to Disney last year with my sister and our 3 girls and the 3 girls were almost 3, 4 and 8 and they all fit very comfortably on the sofa bed but for the most part I slept with my 2 girls in the King size and my sister slept with her DD on the Queen sofa.

They only provide enough towels for 4 people but your family size would fit in a one bedroom.

 

[tjkraz]

At the WDW website, it reads up to 4 in a 1-BR. I wouldn't want to get to the Villa with my family of 5 and find out a 1-BR only houses 4. Right now we're 2 adults, 8dd, 3dd, 1ds.

Although the formal paperwork cites the 4+1 occupancy limit, DVC has been telling members for about 4-6 months that they WILL allow 5 total occupants of any age in a One Bedroom villa. Now, that policy is not in writing so consider it subject to change. Also, the room is only equipped to sleep 4 (two on a king bed, two on a sofabed), so you'd be responsible for sleeping bags or an air mattress for the other occupant. They also will only furnish 4 bath towels / washcloths.

Not a glowing endorsement for trying to squeeze in 5 people, but still fair to mention in the discussion.

 

[lsutigger2]

For DH and I it was more about the "quality" of our vacations. I probably would have never paid the $$$ for a delux, no matter how much I wanted to stay there.
We love having the space, kitchen, jacuzzi, w/d, etc and it is only DH and I - no munchkins!
We haven't used our points anyother place simply because we enjoy WDW. Doesn't mean that we won't ever, we just haven't as of yet.
Vacations are just that - relaxing, slower paced, enjoying what we chose to do.
It's not for everyone, but it was right for DH and I.

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...] One thing though, everyone talks about going to Disney every year, do you ever go anywhere else with the DVC? In the booklet it shows tons of different places to stay that are part of DVC, yet I don't notice anyone mentioning those places.

The simplest answer is that using DVC points outside of the DVC resorts is not as good of a value. For example, in the DGF on Points thread, someone quotes the price of a room as being in the $350 range per night, yet the point cost was 108 - per night! Using the oft-cited "$10/point" rental value, you could rent out 108 point for $1080, pay the $350 for the room, and have a lot left over.

That said, if you've got the points, there's a lot of ways to use them.