[Val32]

What is the guidelines in buying in to the DVC?
Just to give me an idea how much it costs to buy into the VC, and down payment? And what do I expect to pay every year, etc...

If I were to do this, I don't know if I would necesarily want something with a Kitchen, a mini-kitchen, fine but when I go on vacation I don't plan on cooking anything, just coffee maker a frig and microwave.
Maybe a 1 or 2 bedroom room.

How does this all work?
and what benefits do you get when buying into this?
Such as park tickets, etc...?

Thanks!

[Dopey]

That is a really good question that isn't answered at all with the video they sent me.
Thanks Val. And thanks to whomever has the answer

[MJD]

Very affordable if you look at it as an investment over time, very wise choice. Take our family for instance. We travel to WDW almost every year with the kids and I expect to do the same with my wife when we retire. For the amount of money we need to save each month to have enough to stay in WDW, pretty much exceeds the amount we pay now for DVC. Don't get me wrong we purchased 200 pts. and expect to purchase 50 more points after the first of the year.

This year alone we are staying in WDW for almost two weeks at BW & OKW studio's and have enough points to go to Disney Hilton Head for I believe for another three days. I could have never afforded all that this year. However with the DVC I can enjoy another short trip.

If everything goes as planned I should have it paid for in about five to six years. Even though I financed for ten years through our bank, which made payments much lower. There is a small monthly fee for the units which must be paid for up keep.

So as an investment after five to six years, "YES" this is very affordable. Look at it as buying stocks, every year it gets better and better.

[BDavis932]

You can stay in a studio for one week at Old Key West for 98 points per week (this is an average rate). That is seven nights in a great resort with a kitchenette in your room and free laundry access.

We have 150 points per year and if we use our points at disney every year, we still have 52 left over for another trip somewhere else, or we can save them for the next year and can bring family with us!

If you buy at SSR, you get to use your points until the year 2054!!! All others is 2042.

DVC has a collection of different resorts they participate with all around the US that they call "concerige collection" and they also participate with point trading with Interval International.

We have used the Congerige collection in Keystone Colorado during the summer of 2001. We stayed in a 2 bedroom condo (very nice!!) for 6 people, it was 147 points for 7 nights. We also want to go to Tanque Verde Ranch in Arizona and Mackinaw (sp) Island in Michigan. They also have The Plaza Hotel in NYC and many others in the Member getaways program. Everything is very easy to book, you just pick up the phone and call DVC and they take care of everything!

Here are a couple informative sites to check out on DVC: www.dvcfriends.com and http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/dvc.htm.

Also, go to the top of your page and type in DVC or Disney Vacation Club in the search box. There are many great discussions that you may want to read.

With DVC you either pay for it in one lump sum or finance it over 5,7, or 10 years. We purchased only 150 points, but we've used ours at WDW 3 times since 12/2000 and once at the Keystone Colorado Resort. On one of the trips to WDW we were able to take my parents along on a wonderful 8 night vacation in their own studio at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, and in Keystone we booked a 2 bedroom and they're was plenty of room for my parents and the 4 of us, as well! These are things we would have NEVER been able to do without DVC...and although we will be done paying by 2009, we get to enjoy DVC until the year 2042!!!

After 2009, our membership will be paid for. We will continue to pay the $40/month until 2042, but our accomidations until then will be paid for. The "sales pitch" is not your typical pushy timeshare. There is no pressure at all! In fact if you schedule a presentation, they will pick you up at your resort...give you the tour and the information and let you decide on your own. And if you schedule your presentation near lunch time, we received a voucher for a free meal on the boardwalk that afternoon!

For example, if you spend $900/year at a Disney (or any) resort until the year 2054 you would spend $45,000. DVC would cost around $13,000 (plus maint and taxes) for 150 per year until 2054 (at SSR). One week at Old Key West during May or early June is 98 points. You would still have points left over each year!!

And, It's NOT just Disney....there are SO many places to go, and all you have to do is pick up the phone and call DVC and they do all the work for you!!

And, you receive tax benefits for owning, as well!

[soxmets]

May I suggest you go to disneyvacationclub.com ?

You can order a free video to give you an idea of how the Disney Vacation Club works. It is enjoyable to watch.

[skwak]

I don't have the stamina to go into all the details that BDavis932 did. My hats off to him!!

In a nut shell:

We own 300 points at SSR. Last year we spent 22 nights at a studio all total. It cost us about $1600 (dues plus a one yaer portion of the initial investment). And we have 40 points left over. Even if you ignore those 40 points, $1600 for 22 nights at a darn nice resort is excellent!

I think it works.

[BDavis932]

Originally Posted by skwak

I don't have the stamina to go into all the details that BDavis932 did. My hats off to him!!

Ahem...."Her!!" lol!!

I cut and pasted from one of our many other threads....don't give me too much credit! lol!!

[skwak]

Originally Posted by BDavis932

Ahem...."Her!!" lol!!

I cut and pasted from one of our many other threads....don't give me too much credit! lol!!

Sorry about that. Should have picked up on that from the picture. I appreciate you taking so much time with your postings whether they are BDavis932 originals or not.

[BDavis932]

Originally Posted by skwak

Sorry about that. Should have picked up on that from the picture. I appreciate you taking so much time with your postings whether they are BDavis932 originals or not.

Well, they are my originals....and they were applicable for this thread, so I thought I'd save some a little time by copying some of the verbage here!!

[BDavis932]

Originally Posted by skwak

IWe own 300 points at SSR. Last year we spent 22 nights at a studio all total. It cost us about $1600 (dues plus a one yaer portion of the initial investment). And we have 40 points left over. Even if you ignore those 40 points, $1600 for 22 nights at a darn nice resort is excellent!
I think it works.

Stan, Wow!! 22 days at WDW....lucky guy!


VAl, As you can see, we are thrilled with DVC!!

[skwak]

Originally Posted by BDavis932

Stan, Wow!! 22 days at WDW....lucky guy!

Well, I was only able to enjoy 12 of those. We actually had two studios for 10 nights so that we could take my mother-in-law with us. Hence another advantage. We probably wouldn't have thought to bring her along if we didn't have the DVC!

[MJD]

Skwak,

Do they toasters in the studios???

[mickey]

Val

To follow up on a couple parts of your question. The studios have a fridge, microwave, coffee maker and a sink, kind of a little kitchenette. The one and two bedroom studios (the 2 bedrooms are the one bedroom and studio combined) have a full kitchen, with dish washer, full size fridge and an oven. While we don't really use it for cooking per se, we do use it for breakfast just about every morning and for snacks. Sure is nice to have a place to sit down and eat in your own room.

DVC members now get a $100 discount on annual passes. Previously, we also got a 10% discount on Ultimate Park Hoppers for each stay, but with those going away, I am not sure if that will continue on the new passes or not. I would guess we will get the FL resident discount on the new passes. There are other benefits such as pool hopping, free valet parking, etc.

The basics of the program are that you buy a certain number of points. We purchased 270 points at Old Key West. You can by the points directly from Disney (I think they only have Saratoga Springs available) or through a reseller. Each year, we receive 270 points for our use. With your points, you can get anything between a studio and a three bedroom villa at any of the DVC resorts. How long we can stay depends upon where we stay, when we go and what type of room we have. Typically, 270 points will get you a week in a 2 bedroom at OKW during value season.

Of course, you can bank, or save your points for the following year, but they do expire if you don't use them. You can also use your points for a Disney Cruise, a room at any Disney resort around the world or several other options.

I think new points are running $90 per point. So, for 200 points you would be looking at about $18,000 initial investment, plus annual dues of about $800 - $900 or so. Once you make the purchase, you would get 200 points per year for about 40 - 50 years, depending upon the resort. The points can be used by just about anyone, so you can send kids, freinds or family. You can also transfer ownership fairly easily.

I hope that helps.

[got2lovedisney]

When I was researching the DVC, it all looked good to me until I read the part about the annual maintenance dues. $800-$900 per year?? I don't spend that much on my yearly trips to Disney. I stay at the value resorts and grab whatever discount code I can so this year I'm paying $440 for 5 nights. In addition, my DD is almost 17 now and I think soon she won't be wanting to take yearly trips with mommy so...for me, the numbers just didn't work.

However, I have a friend with 5 kids (her 3, his 2) so they need larger accomodations. The DVC works great for her! It all depends on your particular situation, budget, etc.

You can also go here and download the DVC Mortgage Calculator and see the cost effectiveness. (It's in Excel and not sure if the point pricing is up to date but that can be tweaked).

[mickaholic4077]

That's why I wouldn't buy in to any time-share set-up. To me you are paying twice-the original investment,plus the dues.