Would DVC make sense for us?

[sazzifrazz]

I am a teacher who refuses to travel to Florida in the summer, and I really dislike DW when its extra crowded (like Feb school vaca). I try to use my work personal days to make a couple of long weekends. My husband is a principal so he has normal vacation days to use whenever. We have a 6 year old who i would not even hesitate to pull him out of school. I would do April vaca as its not quiet as busy.

We typically stay Moderate or rent an offsite townhouse. We do love the nicer resorts, but i just can't spend $400 a night.

Given our restricted travel would DVC be stupid for us? Would it save us money? Approximately how much money are we talking about?

 

[Sandisw]

DVC works best for those that plan in advance, so if you think you would be planning those trips in advance, then DVC would work.

In terms of savings, it really depends, especially if you are currently paying for moderates, since "savings" can be defined in so many ways.

Through the resale, you can buy points a lot cheaper than Disney. With April travel, the one thing you need to think about is that Easter fluctuates and that will change the crowds and the point structure.

My suggestion would be to check out the points charts at the top of the page and get an idea of how many points a typical trip might be and then go from there.

When we bought, we decided, since we were going yearly anyway, if we could own DVC for no more than what we were paying, but end up in larger rooms, then we were "saving".

Good luck!

ETA: I am a teacher as well and do travel during our breaks--I am limited in when I can go but even with that, I can book 11 months in advance which works get.

 

[k3chantal]

I am a teacher who refuses to travel to Florida in the summer, and I really dislike DW when its extra crowded (like Feb school vaca). I try to use my work personal days to make a couple of long weekends. My husband is a principal so he has normal vacation days to use whenever. We have a 6 year old who i would not even hesitate to pull him out of school. I would do April vaca as its not quiet as busy.

We typically stay Moderate or rent an offsite townhouse. We do love the nicer resorts, but i just can't spend $400 a night.

Given our restricted travel would DVC be stupid for us? Would it save us money? Approximately how much money are we talking about?

I am a teacher too and it sounds like you 'create' some flexibility in your work schedule so I can't imagine why this wouldn't work for your family. As the pp's stated; being able to plan way in advance is really important for your success.

"Down the road' you will save money on your accommodations if you were to pay cash on the deluxe resorts. In order to save money on your purchase, pay outright or if you must finance, have a plan to pay it off extremely quickly. You will have yearly dues that are expected to rise each year. In the five years we have owned, this increase has not been dramatic for us. So you will need to calculate if that yearly cost will fit into your budget.

If you buy resale you will 'break even' faster but you will still break even if you buy direct (just years later). From then on, you are 'really' saving.

What has been wonderful about DVC for us is that we would not have 'treated' ourselves to the quality of vacations we now experience. The only 'downside' has been we vacation way more than we use to and the associated costs related to traveling (food, airfare, tickets, etc....) have therefore gone up.

 

[chalee94]

Would it save us money? Approximately how much money are we talking about?

compared to moderates and off-site, i would not expect DVC to save you money.

if you want to stay at nicer resorts onsite for similar money, keep reading about DVC... i suggest maybe renting at BLT, VWL or AKV first to get a feel for how it works.

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC is not a way to save money. If you book offsite locations or moderate resorts, you won't like spending the money on annual fees and the initial buy-in price.

April isn't all that quiet. Especially with spring break and Easter.

 

[BestDadEver]

I think it could work for you . If you make those long weekend on off times , not in april .

I also think it will save money in the long run . But my views aren't thr norm here.

 

[sazzifrazz]

I am really considering at least looking further into it. I was looking at buying resale. 160 points for about $11,000 buy in plus closing cost. That would be enough for a one week studio stay and a couple long weekends. I divided that by $150 (about what we would spend normally per night) and it is the quivalent of 66 nights in a moderate. I figure at the rate we are going now we would probably spend at least 66 nights in less than 10 years. I understand their are dues, or anual fees, but the cost of hotels will also increase over the next 10 years. hmmm...food for thought.

 

[crisi]

I am really considering at least looking further into it. I was looking at buying resale. 160 points for about $11,000 buy in plus closing cost. That would be enough for a one week studio stay and a couple long weekends. I divided that by $150 (about what we would spend normally per night) and it is the quivalent of 66 nights in a moderate. I figure at the rate we are going now we would probably spend at least 66 nights in less than 10 years. I understand their are dues, or anual fees, but the cost of hotels will also increase over the next 10 years. hmmm...food for thought.

So will the dues.

IF you are disciplined about it, DVC can save you money. Where people spend money is that they go more often. Or they upgrade to a one bedroom. Or they stop staying in values. Or they take trips because they "have points that they have to use" when they'd skip a trip. Or they take friends because "wouldn't it be fun" or they decide that with no room bill at the end of the trip, they'll spend more.

All of these things "add value" and can make DVC a wonderful option, but those are the things that will cause you to look back and say "well, we didn't save money."

Remember that you can't get "deals" with DVC points - so if you can make use of free dining or can get AP discounts or any of the other deals, those will cut into your savings.

 

[sazzifrazz]

Crisi-very good points.

 

[Dean]

I am a teacher who refuses to travel to Florida in the summer, and I really dislike DW when its extra crowded (like Feb school vaca). I try to use my work personal days to make a couple of long weekends. My husband is a principal so he has normal vacation days to use whenever. We have a 6 year old who i would not even hesitate to pull him out of school. I would do April vaca as its not quiet as busy.

We typically stay Moderate or rent an offsite townhouse. We do love the nicer resorts, but i just can't spend $400 a night.

Given our restricted travel would DVC be stupid for us? Would it save us money? Approximately how much money are we talking about?

If you live close enough to make those long weekends work and staying on property has a significant value for you and you'll plan at least 7 months out, DVC resale is likely a good choice. Also realize there are other choices that would be even cheaper but be off property, like other timeshares.

 

[BestDadEver]

You will get currently, it could change . $150 off AP , discounts on some resturants . Free parking at parks .

They have recently offered DVC members very discounted prices on disney cruises 2 times this year .

Before I get jumped all over , because people dont read the first sentence . These aren't gaurented perks .
Everyone sems to focus on the negitive around here.

 

[dbs1228]

Its funny you say you would not go during Feb break but would consider long weekends in April - I thought the same thing years ago when I was a travel agent but 1 year we bit the bullet and went during Presidents week (pulled the kids out 2 days prior and left on a Weds. evening) we were pleasantly surprised that the crowds were not that bad except for the 3 days over the long weekend! April was crazy busy! We made Feb our yearly trip - 10 nights and spent 1/2 our time enjoying the resort. We realized the winter break was mostly a Northeast thing and a lot of other area's do not have that time off. Good luck with your decision. We have 1 more year that we are locked into school schedule and cannot wait to explore other times of the year.

 

[Missyrose]

You will get currently, it could change . $150 off AP , discounts on some resturants . Free parking at parks .

They have recently offered DVC members very discounted prices on disney cruises 2 times this year .

Before I get jumped all over , because people dont read the first sentence . These aren't gaurented perks .
Everyone sems to focus on the negitive around here.

There's a reason the wisest of those on the boards preach to NOT make a decision on DVC based on the current perks... because they can be taken away at any time. It's not anyone being negative, they're just being pragmatic. Or at least as pragmatic as you can be when discussing a luxury purchase.

Someone making the decision of whether to buy in or not would be smart to base their decision on their use of the DVC points at the DVC resorts.

 

[Dean]

You will get currently, it could change . $150 off AP , discounts on some resturants . Free parking at parks .

They have recently offered DVC members very discounted prices on disney cruises 2 times this year .

Before I get jumped all over , because people dont read the first sentence . These aren't gaurented perks .
Everyone sems to focus on the negitive around here.

I agree, they could change or be taken away at any time. One should never buy based on perks (with a very few exceptions). One should buy only if DVC makes sense without the perks and then look at perks as added value. The single exception I can think of is for very small packages with multiple people who can take advantage of the AP discount.

 

[ELMC]

I am really considering at least looking further into it. I was looking at buying resale. 160 points for about $11,000 buy in plus closing cost. That would be enough for a one week studio stay and a couple long weekends. I divided that by $150 (about what we would spend normally per night) and it is the quivalent of 66 nights in a moderate. I figure at the rate we are going now we would probably spend at least 66 nights in less than 10 years. I understand their are dues, or anual fees, but the cost of hotels will also increase over the next 10 years. hmmm...food for thought.

I know you mentioned the annual dues, but I just want you to be aware of how significant they are. Over the life of a contract (and based on current projections) the annual dues can equal ten times your initial buy in cost. So if you are going to play with the numbers to help make your decision, please factor annual dues in a more concrete fashion. Good luck making your decision!

 

[ELMC]

Before I get jumped all over , because people dont read the first sentence . These aren't gaurented perks .
Everyone sems to focus on the negitive around here.

I respectfully disagree with this statement. What experienced posters on here do, however, is quickly and honestly refute misleading or irresponsible statements. I'm sorry if you feel that this constitutes people jumping all over you.

 

[BestDadEver]

I respectfully disagree with this statement. What experienced posters on here do, however, is quickly and honestly refute misleading or irresponsible statements. I'm sorry if you feel that this constitutes people jumping all over you.

I thank you for being respectful about it . And respect your opinion , although I disagree .

 

[BestDadEver]

There's a reason the wisest of those on the boards preach to NOT make a decision on DVC based on the current perks... because they can be taken away at any time. It's not anyone being negative, they're just being pragmatic. Or at least as pragmatic as you can be when discussing a luxury purchase.

Someone making the decision of whether to buy in or not would be smart to base their decision on their use of the DVC points at the DVC resorts.

Here we go , my number one hater . I will no longer be responding to you .

 

[fmer55]

I am a teacher who refuses to travel to Florida in the summer, and I really dislike DW when its extra crowded (like Feb school vaca). I try to use my work personal days to make a couple of long weekends. My husband is a principal so he has normal vacation days to use whenever. We have a 6 year old who i would not even hesitate to pull him out of school. I would do April vaca as its not quiet as busy.

We typically stay Moderate or rent an offsite townhouse. We do love the nicer resorts, but i just can't spend $400 a night.

Given our restricted travel would DVC be stupid for us? Would it save us money? Approximately how much money are we talking about?

I refuse to get into the $$$$ of whether or not it is worth it but will chime in on the teacher aspect.

DW is a teacher and for this year we have 3 trips planned. Thu-Sun in OCT. We leave after school is out so she misses just one day. Wed-Sun feb 6-10. Leave post school on wed so she misses 2 days and this falls the weekend prior to presidents weekend so the place is a ghosttown, especially thu, fri and sat until about 1. And then we are going 4 days in march during Easter break. So in total we have 13 days and 10 nights planned and DW and kids will only miss 3 days of school. Actually DD6 will miss 4 days because we have a soloo trip planned in Nov. And we will avoid the major break times for the most part in the future, this years easter break is planned because i have points that will expire on may 31. And we are not concerned with park crowds because we are going multiple times and won't have to worry about doing the parks commando style, we plan on enjoying the resort alot on that trip

Hope some of this helps, good luck with your decision

 

[sazzifrazz]

Bestdad-thank you for posting CURRENT perks and explaining that those are not a promise.

Thanks for all of your insight. It seems this board is a bit split about DVC or not. At this point so am I!!