worth it?

[999ghostslover]

Hi,
We need some unsolicited advice.
We are a family of 4 that is about to become a family of 5. We are staying at WL in a regular room this June. We usually go every 2 to 2.5 years and stay for a week. We'll probably be able to get in one more trip in some type of accommodation that sleeps 4 plus one in a crib and after that would need a 2 br villa. Would DVC be worth it for us? We might try a cruise once or twice but would really be doing this for WDW. We would probably prefer Boardwalk or Beach Club over other home resorts. It isn't on our immediate radar because we are going in June and have a baby due in October. Next time we go will probably be May 2011.
If it is worth it and we want a 2 br every other year at these places:
How many points?
What should we expect to pay?
Selling price?
Closing costs?
Annual Fees?

 

[rpk1951]

I would suggest you take the DVC tour while you are there. They will provide you with lots of information. The quantity of points depends on how long you want to stay, where you want to stay, etc. You can also contact Disney for a free video that explains the club. There are many experts on these boards that can add to this. I am far from an expert. For us the decision came down to the fact that we go most years (at least every other year) and we like to stay in the deluxe rooms. That was the justification for our purchase. We figure we break even at about 7 stays.

 

[POS]

Sounds like a 2 bedroom would definately be needed soon for a comfortable WDW trip.

Since you may not be going again until 2011, you can be real flexible in your search for resales. Many resales are stripped (points for this year, next year even already used) and can negotiate a lower price because of it.

Beach Club and Boardwalk can both be found much cheaper on the resale market. Keep in mind though that currently, those contracts expire in 2042 and if you plan to extend (if offered) those contracts, you price might end up being close to what you would pay direct from Disney (maybe another $15 per point).

How many points? If you plan to do a full 7 day week, I would go for the 300 point range.

What to pay? Personally, since you have so much time, I would try to find multiple contracts that equal up to somewhere around 300 points (make sure they all have the same Use Year if you take this path). That way, if/when you need to sell, split up for inheritance reasons, etc, you will have an easier time with it. Selling a 300 point contract will be more difficult and would go for less versus selling (3) 100 point or (2) 150 point contracts. On the resale market for Beach Club, I would expect a 300 point to go for $80. $200 for $82, etc. Boardwalk should go for about $5 less regardless.

Closing Costs....I would negotiate for the seller to pay closing costs. The current market should make it easier to negotiate this.

Annual Fees....$5.00 per point for the Beach Club and a few cents more per point for the Boardwalk.

 

[logan115]

Sounds like a 2 bedroom would definately be needed soon for a comfortable WDW trip.

Since you may not be going again until 2011, you can be real flexible in your search for resales. Many resales are stripped (points for this year, next year even already used) and can negotiate a lower price because of it.

Beach Club and Boardwalk can both be found much cheaper on the resale market. Keep in mind though that currently, those contracts expire in 2042 and if you plan to extend (if offered) those contracts, you price might end up being close to what you would pay direct from Disney (maybe another $15 per point).

How many points? If you plan to do a full 7 day week, I would go for the 300 point range.

What to pay? Personally, since you have so much time, I would try to find multiple contracts that equal up to somewhere around 300 points (make sure they all have the same Use Year if you take this path). That way, if/when you need to sell, split up for inheritance reasons, etc, you will have an easier time with it. Selling a 300 point contract will be more difficult and would go for less versus selling (3) 100 point or (2) 150 point contracts. On the resale market for Beach Club, I would expect a 300 point to go for $80. $200 for $82, etc. Boardwalk should go for about $5 less regardless.

Closing Costs....I would negotiate for the seller to pay closing costs. The current market should make it easier to negotiate this.

Annual Fees....$5.00 per point for the Beach Club and a few cents more per point for the Boardwalk.

Think the OP mentioned they go every 2 - 2.5 years, isn't 300 points a bit much ? That would give them 600 points per trip if they go every 2 years.

To the OP, check our some of the point charts and figure out what time you think you'll be going to WDW. Other than Premier Season the most you'd need for a full week in a 2BR at BWV with a preferred/boardwalk view 352, which means that with banking/borrowing you can have enough points to go every 2 years if you buy 180 points.

Hypothetically, if you buy 180 points @ $85, that's about $15.3K, plus closing costs of a few hundred so figure about $16K if you go resale. With BWV Members Fees (MFs) being a bit over $5 a point/year, your annual fees are just over $900.

Good luck,

 

[SSRFred]

Financially, you come out way ahead with an SSR resale. Second to that, BLT direct from Disney is the way to go. With BLT, you get a longer term contract, with dues/stay rate that is among the lowest. The location is very good, especially since your kids are young (mine lived in MK for the first 5 years). The monorail pops you over to Epcot as well.

Money estimates:

New Member Purchase BLT:
165 Pts : $98/pt(current incentive) = $16,500(incl approx closing of $330)
Yearly dues currently: $3.67/pt
Every third year starting the second year you have through Banking & Borrowing 495pts.

466pts gets a MK view 2BR one week during Magic season
495pts dues cost: ~$1900

Resale BWV
125pts : $80/pt(approximation) = 10,750(around 750 for closing)
Yearly Dues: $5.21
Every Third year 375pts

311pts get a 2Br Preferred view one week during Magic
375pts dues cost: ~$2000

Summation
So 16,500 for 50 years vs 10,750 for 33 years or 330/year for BLT vs 325/year for BWV.

Add $33(Dues difference)per year for BWV = 358/year vs. BLT 330.

Now BLT is cheaper. Added Bonus-----you get 120pts more every three years which of course can be used at BWV at 7 months with the other points and get you a studio in addition to the 2Br.

Back BLT into a Lake view which parallels the BWV pool view and you have even more points to spare.

How's that for some fuzzy math

 

[Dean]

Whether it makes sense for you depends in part on how you'll use it esp the specific days you'll go. Overall it likely makes sense if you go light or neutral on weekends, not as much or not at all for long weekends. It also doesn't make sense to finance such a purchase.

 

[ILIKEWDW]

Hi,
We need some unsolicited advice.
We are a family of 4 that is about to become a family of 5. We are staying at WL in a regular room this June. We usually go every 2 to 2.5 years and stay for a week. We'll probably be able to get in one more trip in some type of accommodation that sleeps 4 plus one in a crib and after that would need a 2 br villa. Would DVC be worth it for us? We might try a cruise once or twice but would really be doing this for WDW. We would probably prefer Boardwalk or Beach Club over other home resorts. It isn't on our immediate radar because we are going in June and have a baby due in October. Next time we go will probably be May 2011.
If it is worth it and we want a 2 br every other year at these places:
How many points?
What should we expect to pay?
Selling price?
Closing costs?
Annual Fees?

I think it worth it if you like WDW so much and if you plan to vacation there at least every other year. About the cruise as others here have said it isn´t worth to do it on points, much better by cash.

You must ask for the points chart to chech how many points you will need for a stay where and when you want and then you must have an approximate number of points to calculate the price.

Also you must know that the new resorts allow 5 guests in a 1BR (new resorts are BLT, GCV and AKV) I know it could be some tight but it could save you points when you are short on it.

 

[circhead]

We also are a family of 5. We purchased enough points for a 2 bdrm at VWL in Magic Season for for the ability to all fit and have beds. It has been the best thing we ever did. Your guide can help you - we went every year and needed 350 pts - with the new point charts it has gone up to 352 points.

If you plan on going every other year you need half the points that the chart requires since you can bank points and borrow points - again something your guide will explain. It is definitely nice having the lodging paid for ahead of time you don't have to budget as much for the trip and the accomodations are fabulous.

Some of the newer resorts AK and BLT take 5 in the 1 bdrms because there is a sleeper chair and sofa in the living room. Just a thought.

Do the tour - talk to the guides - read these boards - be as informed as possible before making the decision, but when it comes down to it DVC seems to be something you buy with your heart not your head.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[Eeyorerocks!]

Hi!

We were a family of 4 also, until 16 months ago, when we had our third child

I would highly recommend DVC - like you, we were facing the reality of needing two rooms - off-property is not an option for us! DH and I loved going to the World even before we had kids, but once we did, we went at least every other year, and now it is getting to be that we must go once a year to get that Disney fix

Buying into DVC is a personal decision, but for us, well worth it - even with the frequent discounts and free dining available to non-DVCers, there is no comparison to DVC, IMO. Having the extra room is invaluable, as is always being able to stay at a deluxe level!

For us, we bought the amount of points needed for an annual trip for a one bedroom at BLT during "Jersey Week," when we frequently travel. If you will not go every year, you can do with fewer points. The one bedroom at BLT (and I think at AK also) can accommodate 5, though I anticipate adding-on for a 2 bedroom level when I can.

Good luck - whatever you choose will be the right decision for your family

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Those DVC'rs who love it like myself will tell you, "Yes, it's worth it!" and those that have not been able to schedule their vacations within the 11 month/7 months windows will tell you that it's not.

It works for me, will it work for you? Only you can really determine that for yourselves. The only way it could work for me was to be able to pay for it cash, financing plus yearly dues was not feasible.

I love my DVC! Of course, it's easier because we live in FL, but I get my son's yearly school schedule and I plan and reserve way ahead. Every 3 years or so we have a big family reunion at Disney, we get the GV for all 11 of us. That year I bank points to the following year and borrow from the next to have enough points (501) for a week at the OKW. So in IMO vacationing every two years and banking points for that purpose would make a lot of sense.

Now, however, is the best time ever for a resale for the resort of your choice. Price per point has dropped. It's much more affordable than buying form Disney, and Disney will have to approve the sale anyway. There are no benefits lost other than one time developer points which did not entice me into paying $ 33 dollars more per point.

Anyway that's my 2 cents!

Good Luck to you!

 

[wdwnut]

Hi: It is a personal decision, but we can give you our experiences/opinions. Most important advice- buy where you want to stay for the 11 month priority or where you wouldn't mind staying for the 7 month priority. We had done only deluxes during our usual twice a year stays. We turned down OKW in '93 (stupid, I know) and waited for BWV. We began taking extended family down in 2000. It is totally awesome to be able to do this. Last October I had 19 people at BWV. We have added on twice since our initial purchase of 210 points and are in the middle of another add-on. The first 3 contracts were directly from Disney and were done quickly and efficiently. This last add on is via resale which will save us close to $ 3k on the 150 points. It does take a couple of months though and is a bit of a hassle.

 

[joeytdog]

I would just rent points

 

[ThePecks]

Hi!

We too were a family of 4, hadn't taken a vacation since our first child was 6mo (5+ years ago). Last month we took our first family vacation with 2 adults an 3 kids (5, 2, 1). We took the tour on a whim, wasn't planned, but we didn't have anything planned...and we loved the idea of being able to go to Disney on a regular basis.

This year, our 2 year old RAN to MICKEY MOUSE to give him a big hug. I didn't see that moment with my 5 year old, and I refuse to miss it with my 1 year old.

We stayed at POP Century for two nights for our recent trip. 4 people in 2 beds and the DD in her pack and play. That is only going to last so long. We've stayed offsite and onsite...onsite rocks!

We purchased DVC, and are planning our first two trips now. It is a persona decision, but I want to take my kids on vacation. I never did the family vacation thing every year growing up...I'd like to do that for my kids.

I'm looking forward to the extra room, and inviting extended family down to join us on occasion.

We purchased at BLT, as I love the decor (DW like AKV better), and I like the proximity to Magic Kingdom. I figure for the first 5 years we will pretty much live in Magic Kingdom.

We financed on our Disney VISA our first 160pt contract, knowing that we can pay it off in 6 months. This give us our first contract with no interest. We financed our 2 additional 50pt contracts through Disney. They will be paid off as soon as we can (I'm hoping I make bonus in 2009).

Once paid off...the annual fees are as much as I pay for life insurance or auto insurance...at least with the DVC I'll actually enjoy it!

Make the right decision for you and your family! Good Luck!