Why not DVC?

[hakepb]

Yes, if you want to stay at BCV or BWV during Food and Wine, it is in your best interests to book 11 months in advance. However, I just stayed at AKL Kidani and BLT for the last 6 days and made my reservations in March. That's 4 months in advance and got exactly what I wanted.

Trying to stay at the VGF for Christmas? 4 months out probably won't cut it.

Yes, shorter notice is possible. My trip for this July 4th was planned in May and finalized in June, as we found out about summer camps (and had to cancel our June trip to DL (booked GCV 7 mo out)). But to be honest, summer is DVC slow season (lots of heat and points) so its not hard like December 3-10.

And I've done a few other short notice re-arrangements, but I'm OK playing the game..it can take a lot of work, stalking the booking website a few times a day and playing chicken with the wait list.
And most importantly, I'm happy being at WDW, and short notice generally means AKV, OKW and SSR.

 

[Sammie]

We went for years and stayed in moderates and deluxe resorts before we bought. I had no desire and still don't to stay in a studio.

When it got to the point we needed and wanted a two bedroom villa we bought.

 

[Dan Murphy]

MF are not a locked in cost and are different for each DVC resort

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2823943
See post #2

They do rise, and historically the average rise is about a dollar every 10 years. I don't ever see them getting out of reach, because DVC continues to build and continues to want to sell DVC memberships to people, so if the maintenance fees are out of hand no one would buy...

Thanks much.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

A few other things to consider -

The studios can be a real problem if you have more than 3 people, as the sleeping options for those not sleeping in the bed are very uncomfortable. If you are used to having 2 queen beds in a deluxe or moderate resort, studios are a step backward.

Although I am a member, I have to agree. For 2-3 adults, a studio is fine if one of them is willing to take the sleeper sofa (usually me). With 4 adults, a studio at OKW becomes the best option. Friends of ours, a family of four, now regularly book a 2-bedroom so that everyone has their own bed.

Also, DVC properties look far more dated and are not "updated" as often as standard resorts. Yes, you can stay in one of the newer DVC properties, but the nicest properties are booked very early.

This factored heavily into my decision to purchase. While the resort is not for everyone, I LOVE that AKL - Jambo House has DVC villas, not an annex or separate wing. Its rooms may not be updated as often, but the lodge itself will be maintained for cash guests.

 

[crisi]

We went for years and stayed in moderates and deluxe resorts before we bought. I had no desire and still don't to stay in a studio.

When it got to the point we needed and wanted a two bedroom villa we bought.

This is probably the only reason we still own. That and we have a trip promised to our godson who is still too young. Oh, one other reason, at this point its owned, selling it will involve effort.

I like Deluxe resorts. I like daily housekeeping. Right now, our family likes other destinations than Disney. And right now, my husband travels a lot and works a lot - when he has time off, he doesn't want to get on a plane and stay in a hotel, he wants to be home and play games and see friends - our vacations are going to be more limited for a bit. Non WDW DVC options aren't great, and we want far more flexibility than a handful of resorts offsite and a limited number of RCI trades

 

[Starr W.]

We went for years and stayed in moderates and deluxe resorts before we bought. I had no desire and still don't to stay in a studio.

When it got to the point we needed and wanted a two bedroom villa we bought.

Only time I book a studio is if I go solo. With DH & 2DS we stay in a 2br, we take my sister we get a GV(she doesn't like being in a studio by herself).

Though I splurge at VB and get a Beach Cottage.

 

[Minniesgal]

I think the three arguments against DVC should be that it is a long term commitment and it is a commitment to regular trips and the flights that go with it (I don't mention dining or park tickets as DVC could be used without those elements) and it is a commitment to staying deluxe.

So if you are sure you want to go regularly, over the long term and stay deluxe DVC is the cheapest option if you have available funds to pay upfront lodging costs.

It is not cheaper to rent regularly but will be cheaper to rent for a one off trip. Paying maintenance fees is always a lot less than paying room rates and points rent for significantly more than the MFs.

You do not need to go every year, or twice a year all you have to do to make the numbers work is make sure you use or rent all the points you bought.

We also would not have bought DVC to stay in a studio. We would be happier in a standard room in a moderate than a studio. We bought DVc to have the facilities of the Villa, the full kitchen (we hate eating every meal out and like to eat in sometimes), the laundry facilities and the home away from home feel.

 

[jillmc40]

My reason was I didn't want to be locked in. I have a 2 bedroom in Orlando and we go there for a week...Recently I discovered going for 2 Easters in a row when they are within a year of each other...We get an AP and that saves us a TON of money (free parking, 10% merch, TiW, we can hop)! We add on a few days at the end of the trip to stay wherever we want (we rented AKV points last year). Then I decided to add a fall trip in there to go to the MVMCP, but I wanted to stay at GF (I got 35% off AP discount last year, but it still cost me a fortune!)...So why bother with DVC?

I want to stay at GF! When VGF was announced I thought I couldn't afford it (I didn't even look at the price). When I realized I could afford it, I jumped on it! Could I rent the VGF points in the future? Probably. Do I want to gamble it and stress over it? NO! The thought that I can stay at the GF for the rest of my life without having to worry too much about it makes me happy...And we all know what you have if you have a happy wife, right?

If it weren't for VGF opening, DVC wouldn't have ever entered my stratosphere...Now, I can feel myself wanting to add on at an Epcot resort I would do that resale, and not for a while...

 

[brucerob62]

AS LONG AS You are not picky about where you stay always rent....I have for years more cost effective ..not being tied down to a contract..no maintenance fees which continue to rise each year. I go every year but pay about as much as maintenance fees are or less each time i go. And i take whatever i can get..cant go wrong its DISNEY!!

 

[lisaviolet]

Nope. In March I booked Kidani and BLT for July (last week) with zero problem. My point was TOMORROW's availability, to make the point about very last-minute vacation plans.

Nope.

I have booked a myriad of last minute vacations over the last eight years of ownership including three months ago. From BWV (even BW view and Standard view) to AKV to BCV to BLT. A few weeks out. And day before three different times. To day of twice this past February! You can't always see that they're there if you're not looking (totally ridiculous sentence but I know what I mean! ). And sometimes MS will get off the phone and phones others and nabs.

I've done it both online and with MS.



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As for DVC - I love my purchase - it was a ten year wait - waited to pay upfront. No issue waiting - nothing wrong with dreaming and delayed gratification. And I knew in my head that it was dream purchase not one based in $$$ sense. So I enjoy mine. However, there are some perfectly valid points on why not to buy. My personality likes the control of my own points but renting is the most economical option in my eyes.