Why wouldn't you join DVC?

[Luv2trav]

I have been thinking a lot about DVC lately. I have read a lot of information on the DVC board. Most of their opinions are DVC is GREAT!

I would like to get some opinions of some of you that choose not to join and why?

 

[Micca]

We came close a couple of times, but haven't taken the plunge.

 

[susy]

If I had the money, I might. I don't want to make monthly payments on it, plus the maintenance fees every year. We get good enough discounts as FL residents. I don't care to have the kitchenette, etc.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I like the convenience of the resorts. Very little planning and allot of flexibility. No commitment.

 

[georgina]

We looked into it a few years ago, but bought a camper instead! I was close to jumping in, and just couldn't bring myself to make that long a commitment. I don't know that we'll want to go to Disney every few years for 30 years. I know there are other places you can use your points, but we like the freedom to plan our vacations anywhere. I was afraid of feeling locked in. We have been very happy with our camper purchase instead. It's a very personal decision, you have to decide your own comport level for large expenditures.

 

[Grumpy37]

What it came down to for us was:

1. We didn't think the 1 BR with the foldout sofabed for the kids was practical.
2. My DW deserves a vacation from cooking, cleaning, dishes.
3. We can't always plan 11 months in advance in order to get the best times for our points.
4. Maintenance fees for 40 years.
5. Its a lot of money, which could go towards buying a townhome.
6. We'd rather do Disney at the Poly or Floridian. [/list=1]
   In the end, since we'd like to eventually move to Florida anyway (my wife is from there), "owning" only a week didn't seem like that great of a deal to us.
   
   As always, YMMV. But do yourself a favor and check on the Disney Vacation Club board for a whole bunch of people who see the DVC situation in a totally different light, then decide for yourself.
   
   Another idea, you might want to rent someone else's points to "try before you buy".

 

[terribm]

My one and only reason for not buying DVC can be summed up in one word-HUSBAND. We don't see eye to eye on the value. He is more of a one visit per every 3 years or so and I want to go all the time. I tried my best but couldn't talk him into it. Boo-hoo for me.

Terri

 

[skiwee1]

We go to WDW 25-30 days a year but we stay at the Poly. I'm sure it would be much cheaper buying DVC in my case but I love the Poly too much. I am one that wants to stay in a hotel on vacation, not a condo. Been there, done that and it is not my idea of a vacation.

 

[CamColt]

We have looked into it but decided it wasnt for us.

We dont need a deluxe for every trip and are quite happy at the All Stars. For us, the resort is usually the cheapest part of the trip since we always use discounts. If park passes were included it may be worth it to us.

Or if we had 3 kids, not 2, that might give us the push to do it. But for our current situation, we dont find its necessary.

The Home Away From Home resorts dont thrill me. Im sure they are nice, but when Im on vacation I want to feel like Im on vacation...not at a home. I dont want to see a kitchen!

 

[*Flower*]

We went to the presentation, and it's really geared toward people who don't go as often as we do.

We'd have to spend roughly $82,000.00 on points to use DVC like we currently visit WDW.

Of course that doesn't include the annual fees........

 

[callahanjulie10]

I have many friends who are DVCers. I love Disney just as much if not more than they do BUT everytime we go to a presentation we just can't do it.
1- maintenance fees of $600+ yearly as well as the payments. We go about 4 times a year- sometimes in a value- sometimes in a deluxe BUT always using a florida resident disount or AP discount.
2- We cruise DCL yearly and wouldn't have enough points to pay for when what we need. We usually go under a Florida resident rate and they won't adjust points.
Now you have to understand- I really want to e a DVCer but just can't do it.

 

[lillygator]

If I am paying that much into something...I want to own it and not be restricted to a week here and there......


There are plenty of better real estate offers in Florida for us to take advantage of.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I don't have the money to join. Simple as that.

 

[dandave]

When we paid cash to stay in a 1 bedroom at BWV a few years ago, I decided against it then.
True, the BW Villas were under rehab at the time, but the condition of our unit was extremely poor. The overall condition of the unit was far worse than any other WDW room in which I have ever stayed.
We loved the design, the washer/dryer, the space, etc., but it was in so much need of repair as to only be described as neglected. I realized then and there that I would never buy a home in such poor condition, so I'd be foolish to buy into a WDW unit in that condition.

 

[nasmith]

I DO own DVC, but have been selling it off in bits and pieces (we owned small amts. of OKW, BCV (bought resell, so there wasn't a 150 pt commitment - only have VWL left) because it's a pain in my neck.....

1- I find it aggravating, and sometimes impossible to plan 11 months in advance - and if you try to wing a last -minute trip - just forget about it!

2- What is with the "point rate" for Friday and Saturday nights??? Why do I want to pay double the amount of points for a weekend, when I pay the same price every day of the week at wdw resorts. I find it difficult to justify the high point rate for those nights -so end up switching to a WDW resort which is a pain in my ......(NOTE - when I bought my DVC points, I thought 5 day-middle-of-the-week trips were plenty of travel time - since then I've become more "Disney-needy" and have extended the length of our trips)

3- The rooms are not set up conveniently for my travel needs - As was previously posted - I hate asking the kid to sleep on a sofa pull-out, while I am in a king bed (or worse- My MIL when she travels with us!) - so that means a 2 bedroom for 3 people??) And the studios only have 1 bed (except for OKW) which makes it impractical for when I travel with my Sister or MIL (without DH)(I am not going to ask my sis to sleep on the sofa pull-out either) - So that leaves me with the 2 -bedroom again?

4 - I don't cook on vacation - and while the fridge is handy for cold drinks - I've noticed that no one comes and puts out snackies at 5 pm like at Concierge either .


I'm actually thinking of selling my last little bit of DVC, but I sort of feel obligated to use it for a few more years, just so I can reach a "break-even" point. I'm sure it's a fantastic deal for most people - but I would think about sleeping arrangements for your particular family, whether you can plan almost a year in advance - that sort of thing before you bought. ME, I think I was just seduced by the jacuzzi tub

 

[travellady]

We want flexibility with our vacations. Plain and simple. Sometimes we plan well in advance, sometimes not. Sometimes I am in the mood for AKL, other times for something like the Poly. Maybe we'll get our Disney fix at Disneyland etc. Have looked at other timeshares as well and I've never had my vacations add up to what these cost. And, I don't cook during vacation - no desire to whatsoever.

 

[mbw12]

Originally posted by lillygator
If I am paying that much into something...I want to own it and not be restricted to a week here and there......


There are plenty of better real estate offers in Florida for us to take advantage of.

while we are DVC owners, you peaked my interest in better real estate offers to take advantage of! Could you please expand on that.......my husband is quite interested in some sort of real estate purchase in FLA....and we are just beginning to explore our options!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by lillygator
If I am paying that much into something...I want to own it and not be restricted to a week here and there......
There are plenty of better real estate offers in Florida for us to take advantage of.

First of all, you are not locked into a week at DVC. You are able to use your points whenever you like and in whatever fashion you like2 days here, a long weekend there, a week and a half another time. You can also vary the type of unit: studio, 1BR, 2BR, Grand Villa.

As for the "Iwe don't cook on vacation" argument, I suppose that's reasonable. But nobody forces us to cook, just bcs we have access to a kitchen. I like to have a full-size fridge so that we can keep our bottled water cold (and not buy it at the parks $$$), keep some milk and fruit for breakfast so we have a healthful and inexpensive alternative, and to have the ability to chill some wine and pick up some tasty snacks or hors d'oeuvres to enjoy on the balcony (ahhhh!). I also like the washer dryer convenience so we can pack less.

Now the best reason I can think of that nobody has mentioned yet: Putting the money you might have spent for DVC into your 401K or other pension savings so you can retire earlier and/ or more comfortably. The $24,000 we spent on 305 points (entry level is 150 points) would likely have grown nicely in our retirement account (figure doubling every 7 yrs, over another 24 yrs until I retire... sweet!). On the other hand, we go every year anyway, are gonna need more space soon and can plan 11 months or more in advance, so DVC works for us. Also, since I am a financial analyst by trade, I ran the numbers on DVC vs our comparable WDW trips in recent years, discounted the whole thing by what I would earn in a retirement account, and came out ahead after 12 yrs. So it worked well for us. not for everyone tho.

And if I feel like AKL or the Poly some time, I'll do that on the weekends, or maybe rent out some points to cover the cost of staying off DVC (tho now we're spoiled for the extra space and the facilities).

 

[lillygator]

well I guess I need to edit my post.....

I don't want to be restricted to only be able to stay on however many points I purchase......


I am an accountant, so the investment and the return is more of an interest to me. I would rather put $13,000 + down on a piece of property, invest in my 401k, etc etc etc......maybe even a shopiing spree!! j/k

For some this is an excellent choice, but it is just not for us.

As for the cooking.....I too, hate cooking. We went to Key West last year and stayed in a villa with a full kitchen with the intent on cooking, etc....we ended up only cooking on one night. It just seems to take away from my vacation. Some people enjoy it!


so to answer the OP's question - there are just other things I would rather spend my money on.


mbw12 ~ it just depends on where you want to be in Florida....we live in Siesta Key/Sarasota which is about an hour and a half from Disney and is on the beach...I would just rather invest in , what I consider, to be true real estate and not a time share....but that is just me!

 

[Kermit]

We'd consider it more carefully if we had the cash to buy in without financing, but we don't right now. Or at least, we have other things we'd rather do with that amount of money. We've never financed anything except cars and our house, and now we're trying to pay those off too. (One car down, another car and the house to go!) If we were ever to have to reduce our expenses, it would be hard with monthly payments.

Also, we don't know where we're going to live in the future. We'd both like to move to Florida or somewhere closer to the beach someday. We probably wouldn't want to vacation at WDW all the time if it were an hour or so away from our house.