Why Should We Buy Into DVC - Need Insights

[Merry Mousketeer]

Thanks for the headsup, JVincent16. I'm sorry to hear that the quality of the information on the DVD isn't worthwhile. I guess they don't want to put anything specific in it so they can use it for several years.

If I may ask, what kinds of things are you taking into account in making your decision to buy into DVC? What do you consider the positives and negatives? If you have learned anything that might be helpful in making a decision, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[tubtruck]

My wife and I have been considering getting into DVC, but we are trying to determine why this would financially be good purchase for us and would appreciate any helpful advice from DVC members.

Here are some facts about us:

1. Our children are adult-aged. One is still in college, one just got married and just joined the military, which means he would qualify for Shades of Green at WDW.

2. We live in Northern California and visit Disneyland every couple of years. Our military son and his wife just moved to the Southern California region, which probably means we will make more frequent trips to Disneyland, which does not have any DVC properties. We stay at an off-site hotel at Disneyland due to the limited hotels on property and their high rates.

3. We don't have any grandchildren, yet, for us to take to Disney parks.

4. We like to go to different vacation spots every year, not just Disney properties. Although we just signed up for our first Disney Cruise.

5. When we visit WDW, we tend to stay at different resorts. So far, we've stayed at The Swan, Carribean Beach Resort, and Coronado Springs Resort. Having a kitchen in our room isn't a huge draw for us since we tend to spend all our time in the parks; although this habit may change as we grow older and begin to slow down or have grandchildren (God willing) who will need to return to the room for a nap.

6. WDW frequently has discounts that help make trips more economical. However, Disneyland rarely has any significant discounts.

So, maybe we are not the target demographic for DVC. If there is anyone out there who can tell us the financial advantages of DVD, we would really be grateful. We did speak with someone from the Timeshare Store, who was very helpful, but it really came down to the renting vs owning type of decision. We love everything Disney, but need more practical reasons (saving money) to join DVC. Thank you!

Merry Mousketeer

Really all depends on your financial suitation, only you know if you can afford to buy and if the price is worth it for you. In the long run renting will cost you a lot more and will keep increasing once paid for only duse to worry about but at the end of the day only you know the answer

 

[jvincent16]

i havent learned anything that you probably dont know by now. its just your basic point system vacation membership. i am married with no children but my wife and i love disney. we have always looked into owning a timeshare. we have attended probably 4-6 presentations. disneys was the only one that was "no pressure" and gave us 3 days to make a decision. it was a nice presentation but i wasnt fooled. everyone has a gimic or sales pitch and that is theirs. the no pressure gimmic. we are considering the dvc because we do plan on going to wdw in the near future and go to wdl pretty often. it would be nice to start staying at their hotels/resorts. more than likely we will be using the word passport collection and staying/traveling to other destinations more so than disney. its my understanding that disney owners get good prompt service with trades because disney resorts are a very tradeable/desirable place for owners of other non disney resorts. whether its worth buying a dvc vs. another timeshare, i dont know. i have been crunching numbers all day. i still dont have an answer. so, in my limited time knowing about the dvc (2days), i would have to say.

pros: trading power (although all timeshare representatives tell you their timeshare is desirable), being able to stay at a disney resort any year you want without having to trade for it. according to our disney contact, other timeshare owners are waiting up to 3yrs before their timeshare trades with a dvc timeshare. believe what you want. pros, i do believe their maint fees are lower than others.

cons: not being a true owner. you only own for 47years or 50 (something like that). with other timeshares you are the owner for life. once its paid for you OWN it. with dvc your basically renting. another con, you can only bank points for one year. other timeshares let you bank up to 3years.
i am a novice when it comes to timeshare info so take my info lightly. i am still learning and crunching numbers. i'll be online all day today trying to make an informed decision. i have a short time period to accept disneys current promotion. also, i am looking at used timeshares. generally speaking, timeshares extremely depreciate right after you buy them. i dont know if that is the case with dvc. i have to look at some resales. also, if you buy used you will have to get financing. since its only a lease-hold you wont be able to get a mortgage loan. it will have to be a personnal/sig. loan which carry higher % rates. you also wont get the 1098mort int form from disney every year which you can claim on your taxes. also, if you buy used, remember your ownership will be 47years minus the years it has already been owned. if its been owned for 10yrs then your only going to get 37years out of it. more numbers to crunch. is the used/discounted price worth 37yrs vs. 47yrs??? i dont know. it is something for me to consider since i am only 31yrs old. i could theoretically use all my years for my self and not leave any for my heirs. give me some of your insight. to anyone reading this. if i am wrong on anything please correct me. thanks

 

[vandy]

OKW, VWL, BCV and BWV all expire in 2042. SSR expires in 2054 and AKV in 2057. Check out the replies to JVINCENT16's post. Disney timeshares allow you to bank and borrow one year. If you travel once every three years, you can buy a small resale and bank and borrow to cover your stay. Buying and how you would use your points is such a personal thing. My future plans are trips every 2 years right now in a 2BR villa for 9-10 days. When the kids get older, then maybe every year to a 1BR. Grandkids come along then maybe add-on points and take the whole family. Maybe just 1BR or studio trips with just my wife. I do not know about other timeshares, but Disney offers great flexibility in which resort to stay in, the type of room and the time (or multiple times) per year. Good luck in your searching!

 

[jvincent16]

hey vandy, is the akv currently being offered for purchase?
thanks

 

[vandy]

Last I heard, sales to the general public start on March 5th. Prior to that only existing members can buy.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Thank you for all the responses on this and other threads about purchasing DVC. I know that one of the considerations is that the cost of DVC doesn't go up (except for the annual dues) while hotel rates will continue to climb. However, does DVC ever increase the number of points required to stay in a resort from one year to the next? For example, if it costs 80 points to stay at a DVC resort one year, could it cost 90 points the following year at the same time for the same resort? Has this happened or do the point requirements remain unchanged for the term of the contract? Thanks!

 

[bwvBound]

Thank you for all the responses on this and other threads about purchasing DVC. I know that one of the considerations is that the cost of DVC doesn't go up (except for the annual dues) while hotel rates will continue to climb. However, does DVC ever increase the number of points required to stay in a resort from one year to the next? For example, if it costs 80 points to stay at a DVC resort one year, could it cost 90 points the following year at the same time for the same resort? Has this happened or do the point requirements remain unchanged for the term of the contract? Thanks!

The annual number of points for each given [Resort+Unit Type] is set when the resort is released and doesn't change. While this total doesn't change -- there may be minor tweaking of the point distributions across weeks/seasons from year to year. The tweaking is a redistribution of the total points -- so that if one week/season increases the number of points required another week/season will be reduced.

 

[JTimber]

more than likely we will be using the word passport collection and staying/traveling to other destinations more so than disney. its my understanding that disney owners get good prompt service with trades because disney resorts are a very tradeable/desirable place for owners of other non disney resorts.

pros: trading power (although all timeshare representatives tell you their timeshare is desirable), being able to stay at a disney resort any year you want without having to trade for it. according to our disney contact, other timeshare owners are waiting up to 3yrs before their timeshare trades with a dvc timeshare. believe what you want. pros, i do believe their maint fees are lower than others.

I wanted to point out that either you were given misinformation or you misunderstood the info. given. I'm a first time poster but have owned for 8 years now. i also own other Timeshares to trade.

World passport is way over priced in most areas for the trades IMO. I'd rent and pay cash in almost evry case so don't buy with the idea of trading. I can get a $5000 Marriott week that trades better than DVC. Also Marriott has a broader array of destinations through an internal trade. Also the three year wait to get into Disney???????? If you were told that it was an out an out lie. If you got it from someplace else that source was misinformed. DVC is an OK trader at best. Prompt trades? In some cases you would need to very flexible and look 1-2 years in advance, especialy for a good II Resort.

Maintenance fees: DVC has some of the highest fees in the industry. To be fair DVC has the cost of transportation in there that other Timeshares do not.

OP, I see nothing from what you've posted to lead me to give any advice other than look elsehwere. DVC wouldbn't be a good fit for you.

Good luck with this decsion.

Jay

 

[bwvBound]

Merry Mousketeer,

I've just joined this thread today ... and having caught up with the posts ... I'd tend to agree with others that DVC might not be an obvious "best fit" at this time. However, you introduce an emotional undercurrent in post #19 tied to the Disney Experience. That component alone might be worth exploring further -- provided the financial risk is sufficiently minor.

We are also left-coasters and while we enjoy DVC ownership it is only a small part of our travel planning. We enjoy a smattering of timeshare properties, cruising, auction-based travel for spontaneity, "last minute" getaways, etc. It is a big world out there ... and DVC isn't the most effective tool, in my opinion, for covering the territory.

What we appreciate about our blended solution:

• Variety. We have locations, locations, locations. The last 10 years of travel have touched all 7 continents and 25+ countries. (Granted, most of this is through cruising -- but we have enjoyed timeshare stays across the US, Canada, Australia and Mexico.)
• Familiarity. Yes, there is something to the feeling of coming home. Having a 'home resort' is much like the annual trip to the Jersey Shore enjoyed as a child. A great place for creating memories.
• Physical Activity. Two of our nearby timeshare holdings offer "day-use" to their owners. We visit to use the pools, fitness center, equestrian center .. and might someday try the golf.
• Family Gatherings. Book mutiple units and have space for everyone.
• Best-of-breed Options. With direct access to several timeshare products and memberships in both RCI and II ... we can use the best "tool" for any given travel goal.
• Gotta do it. (Timeshare is prepaid -- must use it or lose it.)
• We haven't seen it all yet. (We've stayed at 27 of the Worldmark locations ... and will add two more before summer ... but they keep adding new locations!)

In all, timeshare ownership has been advantageous. We take more frequent breaks -- and that is a very, very good thing.