Would DVC make sense for us?

[ToddyLu]

DH and I, like Sandi, were going to go to WDW at least yearly as long as possible. We therefore had no problem in "investing" in luxury vacations there. I would have never been happy off-site and appreciate the Disney bubble. After so many trips we no longer do commando and have slowed our pace quite a bit. We appreciate the ammenities at AKV and I could see not stepping foot in a park on small trips.

DVC is were we decided to spend our vacation dollars....for the next 40+ years. We will not be staying in a cottage beach house or buying a new boat, not a sport car or Rolex. We look forward to our trips and appreciate the theming, cleanliness and friendly CMs. No place is perfect, but WDW comes close and is at least very consistant. So we feel like we are getting our monies worth.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[chalee94]

...Free parking at parks

small clarification: this is not a DVC perk. this is a perk of staying onsite.

i stayed at the sheraton vistana resort in a 2BR villa in march and had to pay for parking as i was not staying onsite (and i did not have an AP, which i also think includes the free parking.)

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

bestdadever is correct about perks coming and going, though.

for example, in 2010, they cut off the cruise perk for about a year:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2537773

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2572092

 

[chalee94]

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

i'm happy i bought but want to be careful in explaining the DVC program to others. it works great for me but there are pitfalls that you should be aware of before you drop tens of thousands of dollars on a contract...you're doing the right thing by doing your homework first and taking it slow.

 

[DizBub]

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!!

I too am a little perplexed by some of the attitudes here on the DVC board. I know most are just trying to give "informed" information/opinions about a luxury purchase but sometimes it just feels like they are piling on, using their opinions to be helpful. In particular, they often warn about the dues costing more over time thus diluting the "value" of your "investment". I find it curious that most of these people seem to own BWV and BWV has the highest dues on WDW property. Seems like they didn't take their own advice.

Before anyone jumps on the "investment" comment (and you will) I simply mean that we view our membership as an investment in our quality of life. Over the last 37 years we have spent many, many thousands of $$ going to WDW and it's finally so nice to feel like we are getting something more than a cheap hotel room, even if that's all we are ultimately getting. This is our personal "perceived value".

OP, I don't think people here are that split on DVC. Remember that they all own and if they didn't like it they would sell their memberships and move on.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I would say go for it but buy a small contract--no more than the 150 you have mentioned.
We love having DVC but are not the typical owner. In the last year and a half we have taken 5 7 night cruises (not Disney ships) and sometimes plan trips to Disney just to avoid losing points banked from the prior year.
We love Disney and sometimes compared to cruising it is actually our restful time to enjoy the resort and not do parks.
I would just be careful to not buy too many points the first few years until you see how many you truly need.

 

[k3chantal]

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!!

The people who have responded to your question are for the most part 'in love' with their DVC purchase. How can I know that? They are on these boards almost every day to every day and know the tiny little details of their membership that most of us won't ever know or care to know. They have analyzed, pondered, and experienced their purchase. No one spends that much time if they don't care passionately.

Because they are 'experts', they want you and every future new member to go in with your eyes wide open. It is easy to get distracted by the fluffy stuff.

The reality is that some people buy and then realize that this isn't for them. Or, their financial situation greatly changes or was never strong enough to carry this commitment. There is a whole resale market that supports this statement.

So the people who seem 'negative' really are not. They are giving you the 'pros' and 'cons' and want you to imagine years from now if you still are going to be able to enjoy your membership and understand what your membership is buying. You would not be on these boards if you were not in 'love' with everything Disney. So people don't need to 'sell' you on the wonderful aspects.

When I look at the listings the Timeshare Store has it kind of looks like an obituary to me. Especially as you scroll down and see memberships of 400 points going for 22 thousand dollars. It makes you wonder if those people knew what they were buying and what their predicament is currently.

 

[Sandisw]

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.

Please also try to remember that those of us who have been part of this board and DVC owners for a long time have witnessed way too many new members come on here when things change upset about the changes.

In most cases, it was because they bought expecting perks were part of it and didn't have a strong understanding of what they were really buying.

DVC is a big expense and when you buy resale--which most do in today's market due to the price--you do not get a copy of the POS prior to your purchase. It won't arrive until after you are an owner and it is in this document in which your rights as a DVC member are defined.

At the end of the day, we all need to know, that what you are buying is the right to stay at your home resort ONLY...that is it. While it might be unlikely, especially for the WDW resorts, if they remove one's home resort from the "club", you would be restricted to stays there. Anything and pretty much everything else is a bonus...

One should also understand that the points charts can be adjusted in a way that could affect you negatively or positively unless you modify or change your travel patterns.

I love my DVC and would not trade it for the world, and I think for many people, especially those going to Disney year after year, it is a good choice.

But, I also want to be sure that someone else, someone I have never met, buys because they 100% understand what they are buying...not always the case when their only other information has come from DVC guides who do, with all due respect, promote those perks.

 

[crisi]

Please also try to remember that those of us who have been part of this board and DVC owners for a long time have witnessed way too many new members come on here when things change upset about the changes.

In most cases, it was because they bought expecting perks were part of it and didn't have a strong understanding of what they were really buying.

DVC is a big expense and when you buy resale--which most do in today's market due to the price--you do not get a copy of the POS prior to your purchase. It won't arrive until after you are an owner and it is in this document in which your rights as a DVC member are defined.

At the end of the day, we all need to know, that what you are buying is the right to stay at your home resort ONLY...that is it. While it might be unlikely, especially for the WDW resorts, if they remove one's home resort from the "club", you would be restricted to stays there. Anything and pretty much everything else is a bonus...

One should also understand that the points charts can be adjusted in a way that could affect you negatively or positively unless you modify or change your travel patterns.

I love my DVC and would not trade it for the world, and I think for many people, especially those going to Disney year after year, it is a good choice.

But, I also want to be sure that someone else, someone I have never met, buys because they 100% understand what they are buying...not always the case when their only other information has come from DVC guides who do, with all due respect, promote those perks.

I, personally, was really affected by the stories in 2009 and 2010 of people selling DVC at a loss, people going into bankruptcy and trying to hang onto DVC, people who lost jobs and homes. I felt a tiny bit responsible for that, I've never been a "best thing ever" poster, but like a lot of people, I can make the numbers work in favor of DVC and have over the years - especially pre-2008 when resale prices continued to climb and "historically, its held or increased its value." Its been a good VALUE for me, even if I'm not the head cheerleader, and I've said that many times. But I've always been in a strange place regarding DVC - we are pretty well off and fairly frugal, the day I bought, we could have walked away and it wouldn't have been a big deal - I would have fretted because I'm frugal, but it really wouldn't have made a difference in the kid's college funds or our retirement, or our ability to pay our mortgage.

2009 convinced me that people trying to make DVC work for FINANCIAL reasons is likely going into it for the wrong reasons....its a red flag word for me now that says "I probably need this to pan out financially." DVC can be a great value, but if you need to get your money out of it (i.e. the "investment" flag word), then, no, it doesn't make sense because there is too much risk. Even if you are disciplined. Airfare costs go up. Park ticket costs go up. People get ill, divorced, lose jobs. Factor those sorts of external to DVC events in and then decide if you can take the risk. Could you throw $10k (or whatever) at a contract and afford to just walk away $10k poorer? That isn't likely to happen, but I think that is the real question with a luxury purchase.

The valet parking thing, or additional restrictions on pool hopping, or real dishware disappearing from studios, cruising not being even available when you want to go...those are minor annoyances. DVC contributing to someone's bankruptcy, THAT I get emotional about.

 

[JaimeA]

I just bought DVC not to save money but to have better accommodations for around the same value. I know that sounds weird. We looked at it like this. We go every year, we love Disney. I would spend the money either buying DVC or just vacationing on site. Because we are a family of 5 and the hotel room feel is not what we wanted anymore. We spend a lot of time enjoying the resorts. Those were our decision making factors. I do know that if I use my membership smart we will spend less in the long run than booking a villa direct with Disney every year. It took us over a year of researching and honestly our last trip put us over when 5 of us in a deluxe room was torture, we were tripping over each other the room was a mess with luggage and clothes every where. Good luck on your decision OP

 

[Sandisw]

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.

Please also try to remember that those of us who have been part of this board and DVC owners for a long time have witnessed way too many new members come on here when things change upset about the changes.

In most cases, it was because they bought expecting perks were part of it and didn't have a strong understanding of what they were really buying.

DVC is a big expense and when you buy resale--which most do in today's market due to the price--you do not get a copy of the POS prior to your purchase. It won't arrive until after you are an owner and it is in this document in which your rights as a DVC member are defined.

At the end of the day, we all need to know, that what you are buying is the right to stay at your home resort ONLY...that is it. While it might be unlikely, especially for the WDW resorts, if they remove one's home resort from the "club", you would be restricted to stays there. Anything and pretty much everything else is a bonus...

And, that the points charts can be adjusted in a way that could affect you negatively unless you modify or change your travel patterns.

I love my DVC and would not trade it for the world, and I think for many people, especially those going to Disney year after year, it is a good choice.

But, I also want to be sure that someone else, someone I have never met, buys because they 100% understand what they are buying...not always the case when their only other information has come from DVC guides who do, with all due respect, promote those perks...

 

[Missyrose]

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

Despite your best efforts to make it so, what I posted was not a personal dig at you. I've said on other threads that I respect the fact that you have opinions that can sometimes differ from my own or others' opinions.

But the bottom line is that I came to these DVC boards more than a year ago and for the first four or five months I only read and didn't post at all. I wanted to soak up as much information from the DVC members who knew the system best. People like Dean, Doc, Sandi, Deb and Bill have so much more experience in this area than many of us and I appreciate their willingness to share their knowledge. It was from them that I learned to not make a decision about buying DVC because of perks that Disney is currently offering and to base my decision solely on using DVC points at DVC resorts.

So even though you want to make this personal, my only concern when I respond to threads such as this is to impart some of the wisdom I've gained from the knowledgeable people on these boards.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I, personally, was really affected by the stories in 2009 and 2010 of people selling DVC at a loss, people going into bankruptcy and trying to hang onto DVC, people who lost jobs and homes. I felt a tiny bit responsible for that, I've never been a "best thing ever" poster, but like a lot of people, I can make the numbers work in favor of DVC and have over the years - especially pre-2008 when resale prices continued to climb and "historically, its held or increased its value." Its been a good VALUE for me, even if I'm not the head cheerleader, and I've said that many times. But I've always been in a strange place regarding DVC - we are pretty well off and fairly frugal, the day I bought, we could have walked away and it wouldn't have been a big deal - I would have fretted because I'm frugal, but it really wouldn't have made a difference in the kid's college funds or our retirement, or our ability to pay our mortgage.

2009 convinced me that people trying to make DVC work for FINANCIAL reasons is likely going into it for the wrong reasons....its a red flag word for me now that says "I probably need this to pan out financially." DVC can be a great value, but if you need to get your money out of it (i.e. the "investment" flag word), then, no, it doesn't make sense because there is too much risk. Even if you are disciplined. Airfare costs go up. Park ticket costs go up. People get ill, divorced, lose jobs. Factor those sorts of external to DVC events in and then decide if you can take the risk. Could you throw $10k (or whatever) at a contract and afford to just walk away $10k poorer? That isn't likely to happen, but I think that is the real question with a luxury purchase.

The valet parking thing, or additional restrictions on pool hopping, or real dishware disappearing from studios, cruising not being even available when you want to go...those are minor annoyances. DVC contributing to someone's bankruptcy, THAT I get emotional about.

We bought in 1997 and got our initial points direct from Disney for about $50 a point. We bought additional contracts after that (one resale and three direct) for not much more. I was a big cheerleader for DVC until about 2006 when Jim Lewis came in and changed the look of DVC. It was a nice little "club" until then. We sold two contracts and made more than we originially paid. That is never going to happen again. So when you buy, you need to plan ahead of time that you are not going to regain your entire purchase price when you sell. Even if we sold our remaining three contracts, we wouldn't get what we paid for them.

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it, but you need to plan ahead of time with DVC. You can't plan on booking a stay, especially in April, Oct, Nov, Dec, early Jan only a month or two out. Studios, GV and two bedroom villas go first. One bedrooms usually go last because you can almost have as many guests in a one bedroom that you put in a studio and the one bedroom requires twice as many points as the studio.

Perks come and go. Dues continue to go up. That's why we sold two of our contracts. Some of the members here talk about "add-on-itis" as if it is cute thing. It just raises the amount of money you ultimately send to Disney. They talk about how many family and friends they plan to share the "magic" with. When those friends and family leave you hanging when they cancel at the last minute, your attitude changes. We've been very lucky with who we bring along as no one has cancelled on us.

Wash the pixie dust out of your eyes and look at DVC for what it really is - prepaid vacations, that aren't really fully prepaid. And if you don't plan to use those points for DVC, there are a lot cheaper ways to see the world. Guides are nothing more than timeshare salespeople. They are not your best friend. They want your money.

 

[Dean]

We bought in 1997 and got our initial points direct from Disney for about $50 a point. We bought additional contracts after that (one resale and three direct) for not much more. I was a big cheerleader for DVC until about 2006 when Jim Lewis came in and changed the look of DVC. It was a nice little "club" until then. We sold two contracts and made more than we originially paid. That is never going to happen again. So when you buy, you need to plan ahead of time that you are not going to regain your entire purchase price when you sell. Even if we sold our remaining three contracts, we wouldn't get what we paid for them.

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it, but you need to plan ahead of time with DVC. You can't plan on booking a stay, especially in April, Oct, Nov, Dec, early Jan only a month or two out. Studios, GV and two bedroom villas go first. One bedrooms usually go last because you can almost have as many guests in a one bedroom that you put in a studio and the one bedroom requires twice as many points as the studio.

Perks come and go. Dues continue to go up. That's why we sold two of our contracts. Some of the members here talk about "add-on-itis" as if it is cute thing. It just raises the amount of money you ultimately send to Disney. They talk about how many family and friends they plan to share the "magic" with. When those friends and family leave you hanging when they cancel at the last minute, your attitude changes. We've been very lucky with who we bring along as no one has cancelled on us.

Wash the pixie dust out of your eyes and look at DVC for what it really is - prepaid vacations, that aren't really fully prepaid. And if you don't plan to use those points for DVC, there are a lot cheaper ways to see the world. Guides are nothing more than timeshare salespeople. They are not your best friend. They want your money.

I think the price by then was somewhere in the mid to upper $60's by 97, I know there's a points price history around here somewhere but know it was at least $64 or more. IMO, the small club option evaporated somewhere around the time when new purchases at OKW no longer received free passes, which was around the time you joined. When there were no longer colored towels, cloth napkins and a separate check in desk. I think JL gets far too much blame for some of these issues, I believe size is the driving force for most of these changes. By the time OKW and BWV were nearing sell out, I think the club you describe was essentially already gone. In reality it's always just been a very nice timeshare in a place many of us like to go, nothing more.

As for my opinion of why these type of posts get so much negative response centers around 2 factors. One, that is represents a lack of understanding of what DVC is and how it works and secondly, that it often represents an entitlement mentality. Here's my position on this subject simply stated. I have no problem with a brand new owner or someone investigating DVC asking the question, if you don't know, you don't know and you need to know. It's when people complain about it or when it's someone that's owned or investigated enough that they should understand the system that it crosses over my line.

 

[RobDoc]

I think the price by then was somewhere in the mid to upper $60's by 97, I know there's a points price history around here somewhere but know it was at least $64 or more. ...

The DVC Resource Center has a link near the top of each of the DVC Forums. The chronological history of DVC may be found in post #5 of the Resource Center.

BWV opened in summer 1996 and was selling at $62.75 (with a minimum purchase of 150 points) thru 1997 before going up to $65 early in 1999. BWV sales opened at $62.75. We paid $56 for our 230 point OKW purchase in June, 1993.

I agree completely with Dean's assessment regarding the reasons for the perceived negativity behind this thopic (and a few others). I feel it is in the best of every purchaser to ubderstand how the DVC program works - what DVC members are guaranteed, how reservations, banking,borrowing all work and what perks are available at the time they purchase. Not as obvious is the fact that many components of the DVC program may be modified or eliminated without input from members and that when questions are asked of DVC Guides, their responses may be truthful but no complete. Questions like:"Can the points be changed?", "Will I be able to reserve non-Home Resorts at 7 months?" and "What perks come with my membership?" can all be easily answered truthfully with a few words without providing a long explanation with a complete answer.

Many are surprised when the long explanation is provided - especially when it differs from their original understanding. The apparent emphasis made about the stability of perks and ease of reservations within 7 months in most cases comes from years of seeing posters here gnashing their teeth when DVC has made changes to point charts, perks, borrowing policies, contact extensions, etc. over the years. When the DIS was founded in 1997, DVC had made one reallocation for OKW point charts in 1996. The next one didn't happen until 2010 (announced in early 2009) and was a source for lots of confusion and misunderstanding from those who knew their guides had told them that "points cannot be changed". Thus, when some of topics come up, many are adamant about trying to provide a complete view of the issue. When free valet service was removed as a perk, we had similar angst from many (and these same issues are still painful for many posters to understand).

Please remember that emotion and passion is difficult to "see" in the printed word on the internet and many well-meaning responses can be misinterpreted or misunderstood as something not at all intended.

 

[sazzifrazz]

I'm thinking the idea of renting points for about $9 or $10 each is awesome for us at this point. No large chunk if money needed yet still reap the benefits of being able to afford the nicer room at the nicer resort. Win win for our situation. If we find that we love it could see ourselves doing it a few times a year then we can look into buying our own.

 

[DizBub]

I'm thinking the idea of renting points for about $9 or $10 each is awesome for us at this point. No large chunk if money needed yet still reap the benefits of being able to afford the nicer room at the nicer resort. Win win for our situation. If we find that we love it could see ourselves doing it a few times a year then we can look into buying our own.

Good idea. So glad we didn't scare you off entirely.

 

[cz4ever]

I just bought DVC not to save money but to have better accommodations for around the same value. I know that sounds weird.

Actually, that sounds eminently reasonable.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The reason we got our points for about $50 a point was because we got to use our stay at the Polynesian towards our purchase. Brought the price down to $50 a point and that is what is on our contract.

 

[Dean]

The reason we got our points for about $50 a point was because we got to use our stay at the Polynesian towards our purchase. Brought the price down to $50 a point and that is what is on our contract.

Didn't you have to give up points for that discount? That would change the numbers somewhat.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Didn't you have to give up points for that discount? That would change the numbers somewhat.

I don't think we did.