Why have you NOT bought DVC?

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I think I can offer some perspective from someone who has been there and done that. I LOVE our DVC, but we have sold it after having it a year. We do think we will buy again someday, but we learned a few things

when you own DVC you are almost obligated to take a trip every year(or every other year) this is not a problem, unless you are unexpectedly broke with today's economy.
The room is paid for, but the tickets, meals and food are not and that can add up, especially when you start adding a herd of kids.
The yearly fees come at a bad time of year..Jan , right after Christmas..can you say ugh...of course, you can pay those monthly and that can be a wise way of doing things

there are some good perks of DVC the one is the discounted AP

If you are not middle income like us, then none of the above is gonna phase you a bit, if ths luxury item will take your budget some then it may be best to rent points or use the different disney specials to go down there


I do believe families of 5 REALLY save owning DVC and finally get some options on where to stay, and again I really liked having a piece of Disney...it is apride/ego thing.

Hope this helps give another point of view

The "pride/ego thing" is the exact reason why my DH will never consider joining the DVC club.

 

[dvczerfs]

we looked at it as this, we go every year. we purch. 300pts at bwv in 1999. the cost of a point has almost double in 9 years since we purch. i bet it will almost double in another 9 years. nothing gets cheaper. i purch my 2 bedroom at okw for 9 or 10 nights for the next 40 years, that will never change. as far as the dues everyone has a problem with, its like renting a home or owning a home.if you rent you will pay the dues,taxs etc.. to the landlord,not the tax collector. if you own, you will pay it to the tax clollector.the price of the room at disney hasnt come down one cent since i started going (1973) yet. you will still pay the higher "dues" in your room rate.unless disney hasnt fiqured that out yet, but i bet they have.(i paid $58.per night at car. beach the first year they opened) they still have to paint the all star, still have to have security at the all star. now remember, we go evey year. (we love okw thats why we stay there and not bwv.) so im paying 1999 room rates and 2008 taxs, not 08 taxs and 08 room rates. so for us, going evey year, its cheaper. take what i paid for the points in 99 and even todays fees, which are within what i paid in 99 (i wish my home was like that) and the room we get, its cheaper.i wish i could have purch. my gas in 1999 and still use it in 2041 at the 1999,1.26 per gallon price. thats how we looked at it. worked for us. im sure it wont work for all. were ever you stay, how ever you do it, its still the happiest place on earth.once you push into the gates it dont matter how much or how little i bet you smile!!i do!

 

[buzznina]

We are passholders and there are a lot of rate specials through out the year and a very big factor is that we like to go on weekends and the DVC points you have to use for weekends is ridiculous. The upfront cost and if you have to borrow you have to add in the interest you are paying on that loan into your yearly calculation. Plus from what I have read, it takes about 10 years to just break even based on only staying at deluxe resorts, less if you go more then twice a year.

A good site to look at is http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html
Here is a little clip:

In the following scenarios, DVC purchase beats investing the money (buy-in amount plus annual fees) and paying cash for your annual vacations:
• You vacation for 10 nights every year in a Deluxe resort or DVC studio at full "rack rates." In this scenario, you'll start saving money after 9 years or less of DVC ownership. In fact, if this is your vacation style, DVC is still a good deal even if you would only stay those 10 nights in a DVC resort every other year and throw away 50% of your points (though it will take longer to break even -- about 19 years).
• You stay 10 nights at a Deluxe resort each year, with a 30% discount (approx. 15 years to break even).
• You vacation for 10 nights each year at a Moderate resort, paying full "rack rates" (approx. 20 years to break even).
• You rent 150 points from a DVC owner each year, starting at $10 a point, for at least the next 25 years.
DVC purchase is not cost-effective in the following scenarios:
• You vacation 7 nights per year at a Moderate resort, paying full "rack rates."
• You vacation 10 nights per year at a Moderate resort, with a 35% discount.
• You rent 150 points per year from a DVC owner, starting at $10 a point, but you only do this 2 years out of every 3.
The break-even amount in 2005 dollars seems to be around $1200. If you would normally average less than that per year for your accommodations, DVC is probably not going to save you money. If you spend more than that per year, on average, and you can afford to write a check for the buy-in amount, it's worth considering a DVC purchase.
Maybe you don't vacation at Walt Disney World every year, but when you do go, you stay in luxurious accommodations (Deluxe resorts or DVC units). DVC may still be a decent bet. You can bank your annual points, allowing you to skip a year -- and by carefully banking and borrowing points, it's even possible to skip two years occasionally. Or you can rent out excess points.
Interestingly enough, the results are pretty similar whether you pay full price to Disney for Saratoga Springs Resort (expires 2054) or buy a resale from a private party that expires in 2042. (If you can get a significant purchase incentive on Saratoga Springs, resales that expire in 2042 are slightly less attractive on a financial basis, but in most scenarios it still isn't that significant.)
One last note on this topic: the scenarios above do not take into account a major benefit to investing the money instead of spending it on a DVC membership: your money remains liquid and available in case of emergency or changes in your financial situation. If you invest the money and want to stop vacationing at Disney World, you can easily divert the money to other uses.

Best Candidates for DVC Membership
DVC membership might make sense if you meet most or all of these criteria:
• You have the cash in hand to pay all of the upfront costs of membership without borrowing.
• The cost of dues does not appear to present a financial hardship based on your current expectations.
• You vacation at Walt Disney World frequently: ideally at least once every two years.
• You plan to continue staying at Disney World far enough into the future to make the membership at least break even.
• You prefer to stay in Deluxe or DVC accommodations and/or you stay a long time (10 days or more per year).
• You are able to plan your vacations well in advance -- ideally 7 to 11 months out.

 

[dzorn]

Ive run the numbers ...


Other *additional* reasons include
1) DVC is not a deeded property - meaning you cant pass onto your children after 2042. or 2056 depending on resort. So after decades of paying maintenance fees, you have nothing to pass onto your kids.

I think 50 years of happy memories of family times is something priceless to leave my kids and grandbabies.

Denise in MI

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I haven't purchased DVC because husband is anti-Disney...

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

I think 50 years of happy memories of family times is something priceless...MI

...and because no value can be placed on that benefit by anyone other than you, it cannot be deemed a bad purchase by the rest of us.

It very well may be the best money you ever spend.

 

[Kim1964]

I love the idea of owning DVC and there's this tiny part of me that thinks that someday we will. For now, though, I can't convince DH. He isn't a huge Disney fan and really goes for the kids and me. While we could pay cash for it, it would take a big bite out of our savings and neither one of us is comfortable with that. We've also lived through 9 months of DH being unemployed, and the only reason I was able to sleep at night back then was knowing we had money in the bank to make it until he found a job. We are finally completely debt free and we don't want to finance anything, hopefully ever again.

However, if I ever feel more financially secure or hit the lottery, DVC will be one of the first things I buy (and I am saying that completely sincerely, no "attitude" intended at all.)

 

[mikkiwikki]

The OPs original question was

WHY have those of you who have NOT purchased DVC -
WHY is it that you came to that conclusion.

So all the DVCers should exit this thread.

This thread has gotten so far off topic its hilarious

 

[wmdaddy]

The OPs original question was

WHY have those of you who have NOT purchased DVC -
WHY is it that you came to that conclusion.

So all the DVCers should exit this thread.

This thread has gotten so far off topic its hilarious

Though this is an open thread for anyone to post on, that's a really good point. Sort of like me, as a guy, posting on a thread that was titled "Ladies opinions only please."

 

[wmdaddy]

You may find those that argue...

...against DVC the loudest are those who want it but can't afford it

...for DVC the loudest are still trying to convince themselves they made a good choice.

Buying or not buying a luxury item is a personal decision based on one's financial condition and vacation choices - and should be respected.

That's an excellent point. I could afford it, but I guess I'm just opposed to it. True, the numbers never really worked out for me, but that's not really what's stopped me. I guess I just can't justify making that sort of a committment for something that is purely a luxury. I don't feel as though I need to join to guarentee a lifetime of good memories with my family. It's not as if I won't have those without DVC.

 

[dvczerfs]

im sorry, i didnt relize it was private. but the op also ask "people who pay to stay at deluxes" you may want to stop all the off siters and value resort people from responding also.

 

[GuardMusic]

A few reasons here.

I'm single. I typically travel with my best friend or my mom. We don't have a big family.

My best friend and I "drank the Kool-Aid" and FINALLY went to the presentation on DCL in Jan. Where we crunched the #s and QUICKLY determined it wasn't right for us.

We don't need a kitchen. Other than toast in the morning in a kitchenette & the fridge, we don't need more.

I typically rent points from a DVC owner for a studio. What I pay for the room is usually equal to their annual dues, forget the financed portion.

Some years we go once, others twice, and a few times - none at all.

We quickly realized it was only a decent deal on the resorts. We are now rotating with the DCL and Adventures by Disney. Those two other types of trips would be cheaper for us to pay outright, than points - even if we rented those points from someone else.

I realize the resort rates will keep going up, but so will the annual dues.

 

[avspilot69]

I have been crunching the numbers for over a month now. Initially, before I got my DVC packet i was real excited and wanted to rush in and buy. Fortunately, discipline prevailed.

Here's why I am not inclined to purchase at the moment. This coming mid June we will be staying at BWV for 6 nights.

COST for the 6 nights 1 Bedroom Villa = $3000

Now according to the booklet the point required for a similar stay is 222. Right now the cost per point from Disney is $104/point.

So the INITIAL cost for me would be $ 23088.

The annual dues would be $4.71/point - 222 PTS = $ 1045

In summary my savings would be $ 1955 per year assuming I would vacation every year at WDW with the same accomodation. So it would take me approx 12 years to recoup the initial payment. Now that's a long time. Also, by that time my kids would be in their senior year in HS and wonder if they would still like to go to WDW. BTW I live in Calif so WDW is going to be a once a year thing.

So right now it's not looking good for me. Plus, this isnt really a real estate investment but rather a prepaid hotel accomodation. Yet were still in the evaluationg phase.

 

[Aliceacc]

WE're both teachers, with 3 kids.

A typical vacation for us is a week in upstate NY Lake George, in a cabin on a lake. It does NOT involve $1000 in airfare, or almost $1000 in park tickets, or deluxe accomodations. But it's beautiful and we love it.

This is not an annual thing for us. Quite simply, we can't afford DVC. But for a once-in-a-childhood trip for our kids, we'll do deluxe this time around.

 

[Beautybelle43]

I was hoping some people could help me see it different ways...for obvious reason I didn't post this on the DVC board. But honestly, my question goes to those who got to WDW every year, especially those who pay to stay in Deluxes, and have chosen not to buy DVC? I'm torn...i mean...it seems like a good deal...they say it pays for itself in about 7 vacations...i just don't see us ever have the $$$$ to pay for that big chunk, and DH would not want to finance it...so?? Just lookinf for some opinions on Disney experts! Thanks!

Easy answer for us-we don't have that kind of money up front. I would love to own, because we go to WDW at least once a year and I drool over the deluxe resorts, and they end up to be as cheap as a moderate with DVC, but we don't have the money up front.

We are looking into renting points from an owner for our next trip and if that pans out, we may start doing that for all of our upcoming trips.

 

[wmdaddy]

I have been crunching the numbers for over a month now. Initially, before I got my DVC packet i was real excited and wanted to rush in and buy. Fortunately, discipline prevailed.

Here's why I am not inclined to purchase at the moment. This coming mid June we will be staying at BWV for 6 nights.

COST for the 6 nights 1 Bedroom Villa = $3000

Now according to the booklet the point required for a similar stay is 222. Right now the cost per point from Disney is $104/point.

So the INITIAL cost for me would be $ 23088.

The annual dues would be $4.71/point - 222 PTS = $ 1045

In summary my savings would be $ 1955 per year assuming I would vacation every year at WDW with the same accomodation. So it would take me approx 12 years to recoup the initial payment. Now that's a long time. Also, by that time my kids would be in their senior year in HS and wonder if they would still like to go to WDW. BTW I live in Calif so WDW is going to be a once a year thing.

So right now it's not looking good for me. Plus, this isnt really a real estate investment but rather a prepaid hotel accomodation. Yet were still in the evaluationg phase.

You're like me. A number cruncher. Plus, correct me if I'm wrong, that purchase price is IF you pay up front. If you finance it, you can prety much triple that 12 years.

 

[mickeymousemom]

DVC has the same exchanges, and a few more besides. Our son's name is on our contract (and he works for Disney, to boot). We'll be in our 90's in 2042 when our contract expires. Our grandchildren will have gotten good use out our membership by that time, and at that point, our son can do what he wants with it. I'm sure he'll have gotten a good deal on another contract by then.

DisFlan

Yes, I know DVC has the same exchanges because we are a part of the same exchange club. My thing is that we already owned when DVC became available and we can go all over the country, WITHOUT exchanging. We can stay anywhere for under $80 a night with our lifetime bonus and don't even have to use our points. As much as we love Disney, getting rid of what we have now just doesn't fit us. We stay onsite at POR every year regardless, so its fine with us. I like the idea of knowing that our timeshare is there for generations, and that all the while, more resorts are being built and bought for our use.

 

[wdhinn89]

My husband and I have been seriously thinking about it. We have decided not too because of several reasons.

1- We feel we are about 10 years too late. We should have bought when my children were very young. My son will be in high school next year and my daughter will be in middle school the year after. Finding the time to go to WDW is becoming harder and harder. When the kids were younger, we pulled them out of school for a week but no way can we do that in high and middle school. They miss way too much work. We only pull now 1 1/2 days max. We would never go during major holidays or breaks (too crowded) or in the summer ( too hot and muggy for me )

2- We go to WDW at least once a year but always during a combination weekend with a holiday mixed in. Weekends are a lot more points than weekdays. Not a good way to use you points.

3- We feel there will definitely be a several year gap coming in a few years for vacation time with our kids. College, full time jobs, life. It will be very hard to plan vacations all together within the 7 to 11 month time span to get the room type in a resort you want. It will also be the time for my husband and I to go to places the kids don't care to or to places we don't want to take them with us to . Once they have families of their own, I'm sure WDW will be in full swing again though.

Like I said previously, if it was 10 years earlier and we had the financial security that we have now, and we knew about DVC (never did till recently) , we would buy in a second. Not only for WDW but for all the other hotels, resorts & cruises that you could use your points towards. But it is not in our best interest to do it now.

 

[Markstudy]

TODAYS NEWS....

Disney has just raised ticket prices for their Halloween party and Christmas party. Tickets go on sale tomorrow

They now have premium days and non-premium days.... adding an extra $7 bucks a ticket or $35 bucks for a family of 5 to the cost of going to the party $280. (reminds me of new holiday surcharge for meals...did they really say the entire month of June is now a holiday for special pricing sake?). Keep in mind this is for a party where they close the park a few hours early, toss everyone out and charge you to come back in, thus charging twice in one day. Brilliant from a profit point of view.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1810772

Are these businessmen, the same people you want to trust with your $15,000 up-front commitment?

 

[tidefan]

I have been crunching the numbers for over a month now. Initially, before I got my DVC packet i was real excited and wanted to rush in and buy. Fortunately, discipline prevailed.

Here's why I am not inclined to purchase at the moment. This coming mid June we will be staying at BWV for 6 nights.

COST for the 6 nights 1 Bedroom Villa = $3000

Now according to the booklet the point required for a similar stay is 222. Right now the cost per point from Disney is $104/point.

So the INITIAL cost for me would be $ 23088.

The annual dues would be $4.71/point - 222 PTS = $ 1045

In summary my savings would be $ 1955 per year assuming I would vacation every year at WDW with the same accomodation. So it would take me approx 12 years to recoup the initial payment. Now that's a long time. Also, by that time my kids would be in their senior year in HS and wonder if they would still like to go to WDW. BTW I live in Calif so WDW is going to be a once a year thing.

So right now it's not looking good for me. Plus, this isnt really a real estate investment but rather a prepaid hotel accomodation. Yet were still in the evaluating phase.

Just to add in a point I tried to make earlier, your room expense will actually be $3,375. You can't conveniently forget the taxes...

Also, looking at a Std view 1 bdr villa, I come up with a 6-night total of 171 or 198 points (depending on 1 weekend night or 2). It is 222 for 7 nights.