[buzzsmommy]

Maybe I am a little slow, but can any explain the DVC points? What exactly would I be getting for, say, 270 points? It seems I would be spending (270*$80=$21,600 and then $3.77*270=$1,018 per year for 40 yrs= $40,720) $62,320 for use of a typical 2 bedroom unit. Is this correct? What does that get me? It seems like a lot to me? If we go to DW every three or four years and stay at a delux resort would it be worth it to go DVC. I'm having trouble understanding the "savings".....

[mickey]

First, in order to take advantage of DVC, you have to go about every other year. In reality, you have to go every third year. So, that would give you 810 points every three years, or about 20 straight nights in a 2 bedroom villa during "Dream" season at the Beach Club Villas.

The way I look at it is that I figured out the cost of our individual points. We paid just over $5 per point, which includes the original cost and the annual maintenance fee. Well, the maintenance fee will increase, so our cost per point will as well. As you described it below, you will pay $62,320 for about 10,800 points, or about $5.77 per point. Now, if you look at the cost of using your points, a 2 bedroom villa during adventure season (the cheapest) is going to run you 30 points for weekdays (Sunday through Thursday nights) and 60 points for Friday and Saturday night. Or, in other words, $173.10 for weekdays and $346.20 for weekends. If you just wanted to pay for the room, it is going to be $545 per night plus 12% room tax, or over $600 per night. Even if you are lucky, and get a great discount, you are still looking at over $400 per night. That is for 2003, can you imagine what it will be like in 2033?

When we go, we usually plan for as few weekend nights as possible, so we arrive on Sunday and stay through the next Friday, so 12 nights in total, 10 of them weekdays and only 2 weekends.

I hope that that didn't confuse you even more. For us, it is a great deal because we can't fit in a standard resort room, we have to stay in a two or three bedroom villa. For others, it might not work as well.

[mickey]

I forgot to mention that it gets even worse if you travel in busy times. If you want to go in late February, the room is going to run $890 per nigth, plus tax, or about $1,000 to rent, and your cost is only going to be about $230 for weekdays and $432 for weekends.

[BDavis932]

Basically, you purchase a specific number of points at a particular DVC resort.

Personally, we purchased 150 points at Old Key West with a June "use year". That means every June we receive 150 points to use for that year (or we can bank them to use later...but that is a whole other topic) We purchased this small amount since we are a family of 4, we drive to all of our vacation destinations and only get 2 weeks of vacation per year. Now with that being said, let me move on....

The great thing about DVC is that you can go MANY different places. Yes, you could do WDW every year or so, or a Disney Cruise, even Disney's Vero Beach or Disney's Hilton Head, South Carolina. But what is really neat is the Conceirge Collection. There is a list of about 25 hotels and resorts across the US that you can use as well. And they make is VERY easy!!!

We stayed 7 nights in a 2 bedroom condo (during Summertime) at the Keystone (Colorado) Ski Resort. What a wonderful summer retreat. All 6 of us (my parents came, too) stayed for 147 points! The places in the collection are first class. And all I had to do was pick up the phone, call DVC, 2 days later, they called me with my confirmation number and I was set!! It was so easy!

Another plus is we get 150 points every year until 2042. Right now we can stay at Old Key West for 7 nights for 98 points. So we still have 52 points we can bank, or use for an extra night or two at Vero Beach.

We bought directly from DVC. When we bought, they were running a fantastic special on buying back points...and again, they made it very easy...with no pressure. Mickey knows of some re-sellers, though.

Good luck and I hope I helped some.

[spike]

buzzsmommy, the way I look at it we have invested in a prepaid vacation. If I can elaborate on your math, you came up with a total of $62,320 for 270 points (assuming maintenance would stay the same). If your family took a vacation once a year for forty years, you would only be spending $1,558 for lodging per trip ($62,320/40 = $1,558). In six years try to find a Deluxe Resort for $1,558 per week (will not happen, inflation). Say we took Mickey's 400 per night rate for seven nights, gives you a total of $2,800 (400x7=2800). The Deluxe Resort cost you $2,800 and DVC cost you $1,558 per week stay, the way I see it you saved $1,242 (2,800-1,558=1,242). If by some chance you made it every year for forty years you would save $49,680 by joining DVC vs staying in an Deluxe resort. Assuming inflation stays the same.
As BDavis932 pointed out you have other vacation options as well, where if by some bizarre reason you did not want to go to Disney every year for forty years, you have lots of other options.
Good luck!
:)

[buzzsmommy]

Thanks for the help everyone. Our family will have to think more about this one. We go on lots of vacations all around the world and I'm not sure getting tied to certain locations is the best for us at this time. It does sound interesting though, and if I was going to buy timeshare Disney would probably be the only place I'd go for. I would think the resale value would always be consistent.:D :D

[YensidFan]

You think the DVC is confusing for a reason? :dazed

[mickey]

Personally, I think DVC is much simpler than the other time share we are in. It is much more flexible, and much less expensive in the long run. I don't think it is confusing at all. I get 270 points each year to spend as I like. I can spend them all in one trip, or as many trips as I like. There is no cost to make a reservation at any of the DVC resorts. There is a clear list of the cost of rooms for each resort, you just figure out when you want to go, and add up the cost. Simple...

[graybill]

I agree with Mickey about the simplicity of the DVC.

At the presentation I was a little unclear, but after spending a little time with the material it seemed very easy. The most difficult thing for me has been trying to decide where to go next! You have so many great choices.

I think the membership book is terrific and explains everything very clearly. The other thing to remember is that if there is anything that you are uncertain about, just pick the phone and call. The vacation advisors have always been extremely helpful and patient in answering any of my questions.

I have bought twice in the last 2 years and am very happy that I did. It's great to know that my children and grandchildren will be able to have magical vacations for the the next 40 years that are inflation-proof. (Of course I plan to be with them for quite a few of those years).

Good luck with your decision.

graybill

[ohiotoolman]

Personally, I am not a timeshare fan, but I know some who love it and some who hate it. I like being able to choose a different vacation spot every year - visit Mauritius one year and you'll never get locked into one place.

Here's the math - you can decide if it is a good deal for you. I used the $21600 and $1018 per year.

Had you invested $21600 at 3% for the next 40 years, it would be worth $68400 at the end of 40 years. To make an annuity payment every year in the same amount, it would cost you $908.

So add that $908 to the $1018 maintenance, and in today's $ that costs you $1926 for your vacation. If that is 7 days, then you are paying $275/night.

You can decide if that is a good deal. I understand that the cost of a hotel will go up, but that is actually irrelevant. The way I did the math you can always look at the today's $1926 as the cost. The reason is that although a hotel will go up, so does that $1926 had you invested it.

BTW, that $1018 will be $3,224 in year 40 (assuming it increase at 3%).

ohiotoolman
mathematician at work, mouseketeer at heart

[mickey]

Thanks for the mathematical explanation, and welcome to DisneyCentral.

I have found DVC to be a great deal. We spent about $14,000 for our 270 points. If I wanted to sell them now, they would fetch about $19,000, less some fees of course. While I know that they won't continually climb in value, not a bad return so far. Plus, we have taken a couple of great vacations.

[buzzsmommy]

Originally posted by ohiotoolman
ohiotoolman
mathematician at work, mouseketeer at heart

Thanks ohiotoolman for the finance lesson. You said it exactly like my finance husband did! Financial minds think a like -- the numbers, numbers, numbers, always the numbers!!!

Like I said before, leary of time-share in general but would consider DVC because of resale value because everyone loves the mouse!!!!

[ilvminnie]

Buzzsmommy, we looked at many timeshares before this one, & we always had great reservations about them. We didn't have any hesitation about buying into DVC. Money issues aside, we loved the flexibility of it & of course being Disney nuts we figured it just assured we would go much more often. Being 44 I don't know if I will be going for 40 more years, but knowing that we can will it to our DD makes it even that much more worth it.