Why not buy into DVC?

[DisneyDotty]

The DIS has made me Disney-obsessed (yeah, that's it--blame it on the DIS!) and thus we're looking at taking our 3rd Disney trip in about a year. Got me to thinking--wouldn't it be wise to buy into the DVC (will have spent about $13,000 on the three trips as it is!)?
So here's my question (and apologies if it's been done to death already--did a search and couldn't find same thread of late):
What are the reasons for NOT buying into the DVC?
Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

you only go to WDW every third or fourth year.

You can't afford it!

 

[crisi]

Can't afford it - which includes "shouldn't" afford it

No long term commitment to Disney (those people for whom Disney is a great vacation when the kids are young, but they won't go when the kids are teenagers or go without the kids).

Happy staying off site (lots of cheaper and nice Orlando area timeshares)

Content with value resorts

Want to take advantage of Disney specials

Travel on short notice

 

[CarolMN]

DVC works best (returns the most value) for those who go to WDW at least every other year, stay on site in at least a moderate resort when they do, can plan more than 7 months in advance, intend to use their points mostly for stays at one of the DVC resorts and for those who can minimize stays on Friday and Saturday nights.

DVC is a prepaid vacation program. If you don't have the discretionary income to pay for Disney vacations on a regular basis, you shouldn't buy. (As spicey says - don't buy if you can't afford it)! Keep in mind that DVC only covers lodging - you still hve to pay for transportation, tickets, food and souvenirs.

Best wishes -

 

[tksbaskets]

How about if you go every other year like clockwork at high season and love staying at POR? Oh, and could afford it with a little finageling.

TK

 

[Daitcher]

Reasons for not buying in: Can't seem to think of any. I wouldn't suggest buying in to someone who: 1) is content staying at standard or moderate resorts. (i.e. small hotel rooms) 2) who only visits WDW every 3 years or more. DVC makes sense to those who visit at least every other year IMO. 3) has to finance the buy in. Interest adds up, I'd never recommend financing a luxury purchase and that is what DVC is. Others will disagree on this I'm sure. 4) plans on trading out. With DVC you really need to plan the majority of your stays at WDW. There are far better traders out there if you want to try different places every year. 5) rising annual dues. Dues can and will increase almost yearly. $100 a month dues now could reach $300 or more 30 years from now. Can you afford that then or will you want that payment say when you retire. 6) needs or wants maid service every day. With DVC you get a trash and tidy on day 3 or 4?

Those are some of the cons. We love DVC and will never part with it. We bought in because we love WDW and plan on visiting each year 2-3 times. We do stay at VB and HH to break it up. We did not buy in with the idea of this saving us money. It was an emotional decision. We love WDW and want to be a part of this great program as it grows. We also had the disposable income to comfortably afford it. In short we have no regrets. Good luck with the decision and I hope this helps a little.


DAVE

 

[crisi]

How about if you go every other year like clockwork at high season and love staying at POR? Oh, and could afford it with a little finageling.

TK

High seasons and moderate means you probably would do just as well continuing to book POR if you are happy there. DVC is less of a value when you compare it to moderates, and less with high season....the combination may not work out.

Another one:

DVC doesn't work if you want to take long weekends - weekends are twice as expensive.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I posted a similar question on the Resort board back a while. Here's a link to the replies I received:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=893419

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

When my family did the research a while back we determined that it was better for us to rent points then buy.

 

[mickeyc]

Although I agree with the above post I own other timeshares and there is nothing as flexible as DVC. My other timeshare is a Marriot and there are more restrictions with them and it is debatable if their point system is a good value.

If you visit Disney several times per year then you may want to consider the purchase- -only if you can afford it. The maintainence fees have been increasing and it is still a chuck of change even after you have paid off your initial mortage, if you have one.

Visiting Disney is not cheap even when the accomdations have been prepaid. Going into the parks is getting more and more expensive.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy.

 

[Forever a Princess]

Um, can't think of any reasons NOT too.

Only way I would use Not in a sentence with DVC is: I SHOULD NOT OF WAITED SO LONG BEFORE WE BOUGHT INTO DVC.

Would of saved dollars. Relatively I mean. Because once you join the add on bug is waiting just waiting to bite again. You start making more trips because you love staying at the DVC resorts and your aim in life is to squeeze every little bit out of your Annual Pass.

Sigh, I'm rambling.

Take the plunge if it is financially possilbe and reasonable for your family!!

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Right now, the only way we can buy into the DVC is to finance. In fact, right now, we are working hard toward the down payment. We would have been better prepared if we knew about the promo earlier BUT just decided to join last week!!!!! So, by what I've read, you're saying that it's not worth buying in if you have to finance????? How many of you did finance and feel it was still a good decision??? Maybe I should ask this question in a separate post to get more input...

 

[browniemtb]

We financed with the plan on paying back the loan with in 3 to 5 years, not the full 10 years. Also if you are working on saving up for just the down payment it sounds like annual dues, which could run you $700 to $1000 a year, could hurt. The other side is if you have a Disney credit card you can use that for your down payment and get it interest free for I believe 6 months. Just be careful, make sure you have the disposable income. DVC is a great way to prepay for vacations. I was going every year and staying at the Polynesian, Swan, Dolphin, Fort Wilderness Cabins, and other deluxe accomodtions. When my wife said when are we going this year, I said enough is enough we are buying in. Now we own at BWV and look forward to our first trip home in November. Good Luck.....
Brownie

 

[Olaf]

I posted a similar question on the Resort board back a while. Here's a link to the replies I received:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=893419

Eeyore, that thread was interesting. I couldn't help but think that if most of those nay sayers had the opportunity to stay in a DVC room for a vacation, they'd be sold.

I wish we'd bought back in 92. We're military and had always stayed at the SOG, and while that's nice, it can't hold a candle to DVC.

 

[RAD]

We did the finance on a 10 year note, but paid it off in a bit less then five. Was it worth it, I've never did the numbers comparing the interest charges vs. putting it in a CD or something, but I don't care. If it wasn't for DVC we wouldn't be able to afford some of the family gatherings that we've done. As as the OP mentioned, when you start to look back at home much you've paid for a resort room you keep kicking your self in the a** for not have spent that money on a DVC contract.

 

[dcfromva]

What are the reasons for NOT buying into the DVC?

Your expectations will be raised for your accomodations and it will ruin you to stay in a regular hotel room... My family wants to stay in DVC type accomodations no matter where we go. (If we did not have DVC, we would not be staying in a 2BR villa. I was looking at the rack rate for a 2br villa the other day and it scared me! )
When we go elsewhere, it is tough to get used to sharing a regular room again. Sometimes, if I can get a good rate I will get two rooms, but of course that is a poor substitute for a 2BR suite.

-DC

 

[DisneyDotty]

Thanks, DisnEeyore, for the link. Interesting reading. Further muddles my decision!

 

[luvthedis]

We just bought a small BWV contract. Just enough for us to go twice a year, no weekends. We live in Florida, so this is perfect for us. When we weighed all of the pros and cons, the only real question was whether we could afford it. We bought only the number of points we really need for right now and that we could pay cash for. Other than the money issue, I can't think of a reason not to buy. If we had to finance alot of money or finance for a number of years, we would not have done it. We figure that in the future, even if money is alittle tighter one year, we already have a prepaid deluxe resort for our vacations. We're thrilled with our decision, good luck with yours.

 

[cobbler]

deleted to move post over to the the right thread

 

[fletcher1964]

Interest is additional cost. You need to decide how much you can afford and how much you're willing to pay. Even with interest, prepaying your vacations is a good deal. Yes the cost is more when you add in interest. But I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The fact is the cost is higher everytime there is a price increase. I paid $51 per point for 50 years. Everyone who purchased after 1991 paid more. How much are you willing to pay? We adding on again this week. I'm willing to pay whatever it costs for this kind of happiness.