Why is DVC NOT for you?

[mommykds]

DH & were discussing DVC. We are not totally sold & wonder what we are missing? Can you please offer your insight on why DVC is not for you? Thanks!!!!

 

[Poohbug]

My husband and I went to a DVC presentation on a Disney cruise. We thought it was a good deal until you got to the maint. fees. Those fees alone usually add up to most of what we spend at Disney.I 've come to the conclusion that if you like to go during Holidays/spring break it may be reansonable to buy.We only like Off seasons(I hate crowds and really hate lines) so it doesn't make sense for us.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Yes, if I remember correctly, the monthly maint. fees were ridiculous.

 

[DVC Mike]

DVC is not for people who:

- don't want to make a long-term committment to a Disney lifestyle and taking regular vacations at Disney parks
- are perfectly happy staying onsite at Value resorts or offsite
- the cost of membership and dues would present a financial hardship
- don't plan their vacations in advance but take more "spur-of-the-moment" trips

If any of the above apply, then by all means do not consider DVC.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've been members for ten years. We had five contract totalling 500 points. We recently sold two of them (175 points) and will be selling another one of 50 points. We'll probably keep two of them for a while longer (275 points total - two resorts). I see dues rising a lot. They are up from around $3 a point when we joined to about $5 a point now. I feel a different attitude from DVC than when we first joined.

Also, as much as they advertise the ability to stay at 500 other places in the world, it's not the easiest thing to do, nor the best use of your points.

 

[DisneyRulz07]

Good thread my wife and I were thinking DVC also, but at $5 a point whats the point?

 

[Crazy Kanga]

We are lucky enough to have a friend who is a CM that get's us her discount when we stay at a Disney owned resort. Recently we have used the teacher discount at the Swan and it is even cheaper than using the CM discount at the Epcot resorts, and we don't have to go thru the hassle of getting her involved in our vacation planning. We also have the Starwood American Express card that earns us free nights at the Swan/Dolphin. Therefore, I don't think we will ever buy DVC, even thought we had once thought about it. It just doesn't make good financial sense for us.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I cannot get it to work for our family of 5. If I compare the cost of buying the points and dues against the cost of a 2BR villa then the payoff isn't too bad but we don't stay in a 2BR villa so the payoff is a whole lot longer when compared to a less expensive option like POR or 2 rooms in a value.

I have heard that they will allow a member family of 5 in a 1 bedroom but I don't know how happy my kids would be about sharing a full size sleep sofa and sleeping on the floor. And I've also heard that the 1BR villas at AKLV will have daybeds so they will "legally" sleep 5. If all resorts did that I may have to investigate it again but I don't want to be limited to just AKLV.

And even though I don't ever see a day when I'll be tired of Disney I don't know if I can say the same for my children or DH.

For now I'm very happy staying at a value resort.

 

[lisaviolet]

Yes, if I remember correctly, the monthly maint. fees were ridiculous.

There are many reasons not to buy DVC. Valid ones already listed.


We waited ten years to buy upfront. Always knew we would buy. Just wanted it to be the best time. We bought just over two years ago. And the maintenance fees were one reason. I didn't want them to be a burden. Waited for the best time for us.

However, to each their own about the maintenance fees. I"m not sure ridiculous fits. Two members of my family have/had a trailer that they use at a park in the summer. Their fees are approximately $1600, my sister a bit more because she has a boat, each season. Ours are not $1600. And yes they can go all the time during that season. But they love it. And I love DVC at WDW because the accomodations are great to stay in and hang out and not eat out all the time. That's what I like.

So if you hated staying in a trailer to vacation.....then $1600 a year, plus buying the trailer of course, might be ridiculous. If you didn't love golf...you might find golf fees ridiculous. Etc. etc.

I've come to the conclusion life, when you can afford it, is all about what you love. I love DVC and Disney.

 

[Drewsmommybear]

We have all of the information about buying in and really thought about doing it. In fact, we began to say money so we could pay it all upfront. Then DH and I began talking about the fact that we'd still have to get tickets and buy food or get into the DDP. We were not happy about all of the extra money to be spent on top of maintenence fees. While we LOOOVE to visit the World and will do so many times before our son grows up (he's 3 now), I think the saved money will be better spent on other things like college for DS.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

The monthly fees were way to much for us to consider it. The cost to buy in was reasonable but not witht he property/maintenence fees.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

The fees just did not make it a deal for us. We stay in moderates and with the huge fees, we really were not saving any money then if we just booked regularly. If the fees were cut in half we would definitely do it.

 

[lisaviolet]

We have all of the information about buying in and really thought about doing it. In fact, we began to say money so we could pay it all upfront. Then DH and I began talking about the fact that we'd still have to get tickets and buy food or get into the DDP.

This is so true. So true. I think a lot of people, myself included, underestimate the extra costs.

I was thinking about this the other day. We just did a no park DVC stay in May. And might do it again soon. I have no issue with that. Because I know I will be in the parks year after year. Love hanging out. And often go when there is a hard ticket event. And enjoy the water parks.

However, I did sit and think...

Wow! There are only two of us. What a large expense to pay maintenance and have a large family to buy park passes.

Because let it be known buying DVC, no matter what you have in your head, gets you down there more often. I think we've been eight times since we've bought. I'm even shocked to type that. Darn those SW Dings!

 

[CR88]

Are the maintenance fees really that much? We own at SSR and they don't seem that high, but I have heard other resorts are higher. We just bought enough points for about 10 days and our fees are only about $450 and we bought resale so we saved a few grand. A few years ago I also thought the fees were too high until I noticed how much the resort prices have gone up over the years. We put it off for a little while, but each time we booked our trip and realized that we would like to go every year or at least every other year, DVC became more and more attractive. Especially considering that the points will be locked in for the entire contract term. Even if our fees go to $600, that is still far less than what we spent for a week at CBR 3 years ago. Room rates are also taxed but my understanding is that we don't pay room taxes since we pay the maint. fees??? Not sure if that is true though, would be nice if it is. Also if values are OK, then it may not make as much sense, but the moderates are getting expensive. Seems like only a short time ago CBR was under $100, now it's $145-$225!! Good luck.

 

[gigi1313]

why we didn't buy in... tempted as we were... mainly because we travel offseason and are happier in two value or mod rooms than one deluxe room and my kids *hate* sofa beds (no matter how comfy), nor do they like to share (hence the two rooms/four beds)... plus, we are often eligible for certain discounts that make it much less expensive to pay as we go... and last but not least, dh says every year that this is our "last year of disneyworld, we'll go somewhere else next year" 'til free dining is advertised, that's his "hook" to come back one more time... and there's no free dining w/dvc!

 

[Markstudy]

I like to go somewhere every year, for maybe 5 years... and then sometimes I like to take a break for a few years.... or we discover something else that catches our interest.

taste change.... i like the flexablilty to be 5 years "on" and then 3 years "off"

 

[tomandrobin]

We are DVC owners, so our opinion is tainted to the buy side. But DVC is not for families that are comfortable with a studio room. Do not need/want deluxe amenities. Do not plan on going to Disney every year.

We have friends that stay at Allstar Resorts every year and that is all they want/need. When we go, we have three older kids and prefer a dedicated two bedroom over two studios. Plus having a full size kitchen and washer/dryer in the unit is nice.

We have 625 points and our dues are about $2600 a year. We have stayed about 30 days at WDW this past year. We have annual passes, with a DVC discount. Next year we have about 25 days planned for next year.

Buying DVC does differ costs over time, but its a big commitment of money and your vacation time. Its a personal choice, not for all individuals.

 

[Gillian]

One of the big things for us, besides the maintenance fees, was discovering nice offsite rental homes. There are several newer subdivisions that are a very short drive from the World. The rates are really good, you get so much space for so little money. We like to spread out, I don't like being close to people all the time.

We like to drive, and avoid Disney transportation when possible, even if we're staying onsite.

Also we bought a used pop up camper from family and Fort Wilderness is a great place to stay. There are annual upkeep costs associated with the trailer, but we can take it anywhere we can drive to.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm willing to "slum it" offsite. Our estimation is that DVC makes sense for us only if we were to insist on staying in Moderates or better annually.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Currently, the AKV is the only DVC resort that officially has sleeping spaces for five in a one bedroom - one king bed, one queen sleeper sofa and one twin sleeper chair. The other one bedroom villas don't have the twin sleeper chair, but DVC is currently allowing a fifth person (child) in the one bedroom, but they don't provide any additional bedding, towels, etc. You have to bring your own.

When Kidani Village opens at AKV, they could go back to not allowing the fifth person in the one bedroom.

Someone will undoubtedly bring up the Studio Plus at BWV (one queen bed, one double sleeper sofa and one "daybed"). However, you cannot reserve one, it's only a request and the so called daybed is more like a deacon's bench with a thin pad on it - crib sized at most.