Why I don’t buy dvc…

[Girlstar30]

Amendment: most of the sales agents at other timeshare companies lie. Most of the guest services people (front desk, etc.) are fantastic.

And you never, ever have to talk to the sales agents, even if you want to own there. Resale is your friend.

Yep I can verify because I was the front desk that got screamed at after the sales agent lied (Marriott)

 

[Chili327]

I bought 440 points. Generally it's enough to cover about 17-18 nights in a 1-bedroom at Boardwalk in moderate seasons. If I go during a peak season, I offset it by going during a cheaper season. On occasion, I might only need a studio, and if I mix in stays at cheaper resorts like OKW or Cabins at Ft Wilderness, I can stretch those points to even more days. I usually have a few points left to roll over each year.

Explain?
Do you mean that your 17-18 nights aren't all in one trip so you break it up into 1 trip during peak, & another during cheap season?

 

[atthebeachclub]

This is a great feature of timeshares. Folks in the US generally take fewer and shorter vacations than most any other "wealthy nation," and owning a timeshare is a good way to help nudge one to take more and longer vacations. That said, DVC is far from the only decent timeshare in the world, and it is one of the most expensive to own and use.

I am already having conversations with my kids (24 and 26) about these ideas---about how we as a culture tend to over-identify with our work lives, and under-value our own well being. It would not be a bad idea to have that conversation with your daughter, and to make sure you're inviting her (and any family) along on many trips, whether Disney or not.

For example, I have a wednesday-to-wednesday week in a 3BR at Wyndham Park City coming up this summer. Both kids and their partners are invited for as long or as little as they'd like to join, flights and other major expenses on me. If they come for part or all of that, great! If not, I'll have a very big condo to roll around in!

Brian, what timeshare company do you think offers the best bang for the buck outside DVC, with great locations and reasonable dues and policies? Are there any to research the resale market for? I’ve always been curious but there are just so many companies and they are all different.

 

[nedlanders]

Amendment: most of the sales agents at other timeshare companies lie. Most of the guest services people (front desk, etc.) are fantastic.

And you never, ever have to talk to the sales agents, even if you want to own there. Resale is your friend.

TRUTH @Brian Noble. Resale is your friend!

 

[Cfabar1]

There are many other good companies the thing to be careful about is rising dues at some of them. Also joining and using Interval Getaways for cash bookings for cheap is a great use of a timeshare program membership.

I personally was rather fond of Hyatt until recent changes to the program but would personally consider it the second best program after Disney. Like Disney, it suffers from a limited footprint which I feel required them to offer better value in other ways.

 

[Brian Noble]

The first question: Where do you want to be on the quality/cost ladder?

In general, the hotel-branded systems have better fit and finish, but also cost more to run. I'd put Marriott at the top of these, followed closely by Hilton Grand Vacation Club (not Hilton Vacation Club) and Starwood. Hyatt is a bit of a mixed bag since they added the Welk resorts, but is probably in the middle of that bunch. The next tier is the larger "pure play" timeshare systems: WorldMark, Wyndham, and Bluegreen. There are also a bunch of smaller systems you can safely ignore. (You can also ignore Hilton Vacation Club, which functionally cannot be bought resale.)

The second question is: within the teir you are thinking about (hotel-branded or pure-play) which system has the resort portfolio most interesting to you?

If you are a "hotel-branded" person, and Hilton Grand VC has enough resorts, it's probably a pretty good buy. Be careful you are not considering Hilton Vaation Club resorts, becuase those are funcitonally separate. Otherwise, Marriott is probably the next choice. Hyatt is the dark horse, because they are a "get away from it all" vibe with a limited portfolio, but if that's your bag, you'll love it.

I happen to think the sweet spot for value is the pure-play systems. Wyndham focuses more east of the Mississippi, WorldMark west of it, but both have resorts spread broadly. I know more about Wyndham (I own in that system). The very best resorts are extremely nice, but the quality can be a bit more variable. If you're an upmarket-only person when you choose hotels, maybe not the best fit. I also don't see the point of Bluegreen personally---the locations all seem to be less interesting than similar spots in WorldMark and Wyndham, and there is no real cost advantage.

 

[Girlstar30]

The first question: Where do you want to be on the quality/cost ladder?

In general, the hotel-branded systems have better fit and finish, but also cost more to run. I'd put Marriott at the top of these, followed closely by Hilton Grand Vacation Club (not Hilton Vacation Club) and Starwood. Hyatt is a bit of a mixed bag since they added the Welk resorts, but is probably in the middle of that bunch. The next tier is the larger "pure play" timeshare systems: WorldMark, Wyndham, and Bluegreen. There are also a bunch of smaller systems you can safely ignore. (You can also ignore Hilton Vacation Club, which functionally cannot be bought resale.)

The second question is: within the teir you are thinking about (hotel-branded or pure-play) which system has the resort portfolio most interesting to you?

If you are a "hotel-branded" person, and Hilton Grand VC has enough resorts, it's probably a pretty good buy. Be careful you are not considering Hilton Vaation Club resorts, becuase those are funcitonally separate. Otherwise, Marriott is probably the next choice. Hyatt is the dark horse, because they are a "get away from it all" vibe with a limited portfolio, but if that's your bag, you'll love it.

I happen to think the sweet spot for value is the pure-play systems. Wyndham focuses more east of the Mississippi, WorldMark west of it, but both have resorts spread broadly. I know more about Wyndham (I own in that system). The very best resorts are extremely nice, but the quality can be a bit more variable. If you're an upmarket-only person when you choose hotels, maybe not the best fit. I also don't see the point of Bluegreen personally---the locations all seem to be less interesting than similar spots in WorldMark and Wyndham, and there is no real cost advantage.

What is your favorite resale website (probably dangerous for me to ask ) Do these work like Disney with "points" and a real estate deed? The Marriott rooms are nice i will admit, Marriott is our favorite hotel brand to stay at, I think i am just traumatized from working there but also in working there i learned a LOT, it really is like the "Disney" of hotels and employees bend over backwards for the guest.

 

[Brian Noble]

Marriott is tricky, because a good chunk of it was developed prior to the introduction of their points product. So, there are two ways to go about it. One: buy a week (preferably a 2BR lockoff) and use Interval to trade into other weeks around the system. Marriott owners have "internal preference" That gives them early access to other Marriott deposits. Two: buy points and use them within the point system. The newer the resort, the more of its inventory is in Points.

I am not a Marriott owner, and have never really seriously considered owning there, so haven't done my homework. If you think you might be interested, go hang out on the Marriott boards at TUG (tugbbs.com). Then take your time learning the ins and outs before you jump into anything.

 

[Girlstar30]

Marriott is tricky, because a good chunk of it was developed prior to the introduction of their points product. So, there are two ways to go about it. One: buy a week (preferably a 2BR lockoff) and use Interval to trade into other weeks around the system. Marriott owners have "internal preference" That gives them early access to other Marriott deposits. Two: buy points and use them within the point system. The newer the resort, the more of its inventory is in Points.

I am not a Marriott owner, and have never really seriously considered owning there, so haven't done my homework. If you think you might be interested, go hang out on the Marriott boards at TUG (tugbbs.com). Then take your time learning the ins and outs before you jump into anything.

Thank you

 

[zackiedawg]

Explain?
Do you mean that your 17-18 nights aren't all in one trip so you break it up into 1 trip during peak, & another during cheap season?

Exactly - I'm somewhat local, in S Florida, so for me it's a 3-hour drive to Disney door-to-door. I typically take 4 or 5 day trips, every 3 months or so, each year. My trips are USUALLY around end of January/early February, sometime in June, sometime in September, and early December. So I'll be there during a few of the value seasons when points are cheaper, and a few of the mid-tier seasons when points are a bit more. If I do 5 trips in a year, there's usually one squeezed in around March/April (this year, I was there in February and my next trips are June, September, and December so this year will be 4 trips). All in 1-bedrooms. My December trips are often 6 days rather than 4-5.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Marriott is tricky, because a good chunk of it was developed prior to the introduction of their points product. So, there are two ways to go about it. One: buy a week (preferably a 2BR lockoff) and use Interval to trade into other weeks around the system. Marriott owners have "internal preference" That gives them early access to other Marriott deposits. Two: buy points and use them within the point system. The newer the resort, the more of its inventory is in Points.

I am not a Marriott owner, and have never really seriously considered owning there, so haven't done my homework. If you think you might be interested, go hang out on the Marriott boards at TUG (tugbbs.com). Then take your time learning the ins and outs before you jump into anything.

Thank you for the detailed responses! I am excited to read more and now know where to focus that reading. Very helpful!

 

[Instagramhusband]

I spent 7 years fighting buying DVC membership in my logical mind. There are too many logical reasons not to buy. It just feels better to own, knowing you are going to stay here even if there is some minor issues getting a resort you want over another.

 

[ckb_nc]

If you rent points 5 or 6 times at irregular intervals over your lifetime, being a renter will make you look like a genius.

If you take 5 or 6 trips on rented points before deciding to buy--or continue visiting regularly while never buying--you'll probably feel like an idiot if you ever add up what you spent which could have gone toward the purchase.

For me, the decision to buy was 99% financial. When planning ahead and having reasonable expectations, I've never been disappointed in the resort options available to book at 11 or 7 months. (Really this is true of renting as well--not going to get a Beach Club studio at 3 months unless the rate is far higher than standard.)

We rented and it was opener. Made the decision to buy from there. 10 years later - we have discussed several times and seriously considered selling 2 years ago - and we have decided for now to keep it. As grandkids emerge it will become more of a priority

 

[MsChristy12]

OP @Disneydad14 It's great that you know what works for you though. It's not an inexpensive purchase, so it's good to think through it and know for sure if it's a product that suits your family.

We rented before making the final decision that, owning is better for us. I like to have control of all our reservations. I am a planner so most of our vacations are planned out as far in advance as possible. At the time, the cancellation policy wasn't flexible and I was very hestiant to book at 11 months out. Long story short, I waited to rent and the only resort available for the week we needed was SSR. From that experience, I knew renting wouldn't work for us.

 

[Moonspinner]

Theoretically you could prepay your dues. We do this and have had more than one year paid in advance before.

 

[matt_in_nh]

On point 1 you can split the points you want to buy your three resorts. TBH I wish I had done this vs one larger contract.
For point two you cannot prepay dues but you can probably set something up in a trust with an account to pay the dues with an assumed rate of increase.

 

[Chili327]

Theoretically you could prepay your dues. We do this and have had more than one year paid in advance before.

How did you do that?

 

[petrola]

1: Nothing is more flexible than cash. If you do not find the rental process onerous or expensive, then don't change what is working! The advantages of owning are (a) more control over your reservations, and (b) a lower cost given a long-enough time horizon.

This! nothing is more flexible than cash. And was I ever grateful we paid cash at HH last summer when we had to cut our trip short due to the hurricane. There was absolutely NO ISSUE receiving a full refund for the unused portion of our stay including the day we checked out. We do have points at VGF (not a large contract) - and it's fun to have to play around with - especially if I'm looking to book a one bedroom for the washer- but I do prefer the flexibility of cash reservations. Plus we like to stay club level at Disney as well - so that means paying cash. When all is said and done, I prefer having control of my own reservations- so renting points is something I no longer consider.

We do love DVB and Aulani, and use our points there as much as time allows!

 

[eticketplease]

How did you do that?

Once your dues are paid you can do this.

Navigate to the Dues link.
Click Make a Payment.
Pay by contract will be selected.
One at a time scroll down to a contract and click "Apply Other Amount"
Enter the amount you want for each contract.
You can then pay with a credit or gift card. (Gift Card may need to have autopay turned off, mine was off and showed that option)



I no longer prepay however since it turns out to be a mess if and when they issue credits for taxes that were overpaid etc.
Also if you go to sell your contract they would credit the form of payment used.
People constantly churn CC and use GC so I don't know if I would still have that particular card if I ever sold one of my contracts.

 

[radiodome21]

I never even wanted to go to Disney the first time my wife proposed that. Yes I went once when I was 8 and I thought that was good enough. I wanted to wait until our kids were older. Well of course I lost that argument and sure enough I became a huge Disney fan. Eight years after that discussion I own 250 points at my two favorite resorts. And if we want to try a different resort than all the better.

Prior to owning DVC we used to rent a house in the Florida panhandle for a week at Easter. We’d vacation there with my side of the family. Yes it was a good time but I never loved it. Plus for what I was paying between the house, airfare, car rental and the Publix runs it was on par with a trip to Disney. Disney is our favorite vacation fest and DVC allows us to plan accordingly. The key is that it works for us.