Curious about DVC

[MouseMagic]

Hi all,

I come from a Disney pro family and until I graduated from college went almost every year with my parents and siblings. Heck I even participated in the Disney College Program as a wardrobe hostess at EPCOT.

Now I have my own young daughter (2 1/2) and I'm dying to start taking her...in fact I have my partner sold on a September get away. As I've been pushing for years about becoming a DVC owner... just to snag some of the 'magic'...this trip weighs in on if we'll purchase.

The other justification I can't seem to overcome is do we get more value for our money by becoming owners or is it just a silly fancy (to my partner not me!!) to own?

Also, does financing make sense for most or do you find that buying outright is easier?

I've also found the fantastic source here on Mouse Owners where you can see the yearly fees historic increase (THANK YOU SITE OWNER).... is it a guaranteed rise per year? Do you ever level out or in fees do you constantly pay what you're going to pay for an outright vacation (granted at a moderate resort)?

I noticed that the points are now different for weekend vs. weekday (I don't think they were when I looked into this a few years ago)...

Also, what would everyone recommend starting with for # of points?

Finally.... if you buy into a resort you're not guaranteed to be able to stay there?

Thank you ever so much!

In persuit of the Mouse,
Dora

[administrator]

Hi all,

I come from a Disney pro family and until I graduated from college went almost every year with my parents and siblings. Heck I even participated in the Disney College Program as a wardrobe hostess at EPCOT.

Now I have my own young daughter (2 1/2) and I'm dying to start taking her...in fact I have my partner sold on a September get away. As I've been pushing for years about becoming a DVC owner... just to snag some of the 'magic'...this trip weighs in on if we'll purchase.

The other justification I can't seem to overcome is do we get more value for our money by becoming owners or is it just a silly fancy (to my partner not me!!) to own?

Also, does financing make sense for most or do you find that buying outright is easier?

I've also found the fantastic source here on Mouse Owners where you can see the yearly fees historic increase (THANK YOU SITE OWNER).... is it a guaranteed rise per year? Do you ever level out or in fees do you constantly pay what you're going to pay for an outright vacation (granted at a moderate resort)?

I noticed that the points are now different for weekend vs. weekday (I don't think they were when I looked into this a few years ago)...

Also, what would everyone recommend starting with for # of points?

Finally.... if you buy into a resort you're not guaranteed to be able to stay there?

Thank you ever so much!

In persuit of the Mouse,
Dora

Hi, and welcome to MO!

I don't have a lot of time now, so I can't answer your question about financing. Some will tell you that DVC is a luxury purchase and others will tell you that financing is just fine. DVC's APR is pretty high, but it's easy to get and makes sense if it's a purchase that you can afford every month. Financing for resales can also be obtained, usually in conjunction with the resale company.

For most people who go to WDW at least every year, the break even point for "getting your $$ back" in accommodations is 6-7 years. (Remember, however, that you have to take into account in your finances things like park tickets, rental car, plane tickets, etc.)

You do get better accommodations with DVC as well as the ability to do things like make meals in your room (and save $$ that way), but it's still Disney -- and it's still expensive.

Fees generally do rise, but they cannot rise more than 15% in a given year.

Weekends have pretty much always been more points-intensive than weeknights. To get more value for their points, some people will move to a value/moderate or will pay cash for s DVC ressie over the weekend (you get a 25% discount at times).

Starting number of points is a tough one. How many more children will you have? Do you desire some privacy from them? When will you travel? Only you can answer these questions.

If you call at the 11 month mark of your home resort, you'll pretty much always be able to stay there.

You might also want to check out THIS LINK (http://www.mouseowners.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97&Itemid=99) for some common DVC FAQs.

HTH

[tomandrobin]

Welcome to MouseOwners!!!!

Purchasing is a luxury purchase. But I am on the side that if you are going to vacation at WDW every year, then DVC can be a good deal.

Maintenance fees have gone up most years, but not as much as the cash rate for stays at the hotels.

We purchased DVC for the long hual. We feel that DVC is still worth owning for us. Some of the long time owners may tell you DVC is no longer worth owning, like it was for them buying 10+ years ago. But I'm sure that when they bought originally, they probably were questioned about the "value"of thier purchase. Time will tell.

I would also tell you that if you are buying, resale may be the better deal right now.

Read the DVC faq thread and come back and ask more questions.

[greenban]

Hi all,

I come from a Disney pro family and until I graduated from college went almost every year with my parents and siblings. Heck I even participated in the Disney College Program as a wardrobe hostess at EPCOT.

Okay, so what is an EPCOT wardrobe hostess??

Now I have my own young daughter (2 1/2) and I'm dying to start taking her...in fact I have my partner sold on a September get away. As I've been pushing for years about becoming a DVC owner... just to snag some of the 'magic'...this trip weighs in on if we'll purchase.

2.5 years is a great time to start taking kiddos to the World. But are you a twice a year fan, more? Once a year? Less. How often will your partner be willing to go?

The other justification I can't seem to overcome is do we get more value for our money by becoming owners or is it just a silly fancy (to my partner not me!!) to own?

The answer does *NOT* depend on your definition of what does *IS* mean, but your answer depends on.....

Do you prefer high end accomidations? Do you prefer more physical room? Will your family just be park commandoes (rushing from attraction to attraction, or will you possibly also vacation to relax, refresh and restore?)

Also, does financing make sense for most or do you find that buying outright is easier?

I'm one of those,"This is a luxury purchase" kinda of guys and believe you should not finance a luxury. I pay for my cars and DVC and guns at the time of purchase. Especially in this economy, which may crash depending on election results in November, I would be very hesitant to finance right now. However, you know your financials better than anyone. (Disney is aroung 10.5% for a 10 year finance. If you have a pulse you qualify, BTW) Also, if I were to expand my DVC holdings Bwahahahahahhahaha (<====evil frog laugh), I would buy resale around November-December when I expect prices to bottom out....

I've also found the fantastic source here on Mouse Owners where you can see the yearly fees historic increase (THANK YOU SITE OWNER) {Yes, Kim does rock!!!}.... is it a guaranteed rise per year? Do you ever level out or in fees do you constantly pay what you're going to pay for an outright vacation (granted at a moderate resort)?

There are no guarentees in life. Some years the MFs actually went down! However, assume the average stay right now costs you 450 per night (rack rate), so a week is $3,150. An OKW studio can be as low as 80 points for the same week. Would you rather pay a (hypothetical) 10% increase on $3,150, or $360 (estimated MFs for 80 OKW points)?

I noticed that the points are now different for weekend vs. weekday (I don't think they were when I looked into this a few years ago)... Yes they were, neener neener!

Also, what would everyone recommend starting with for # of points?
If you buy directly from Disney, you must start with 160 points. Resale can be as small as 25 points (very hard to find said small contract)

What do I recommend? Tell me what times of the year your going to go, what size rooms you want and which resort, and I can answer that for you! Sadly I am just a frog, and not a mind reader ;)

Finally.... if you buy into a resort you're not guaranteed to be able to stay there?

Correct, there are times the DVC is 100% full, all resorts all rooms. Times like Easter, Presidents Weekend, MLK Day, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, All of December, NYE, NYD. But for those dates if you book early, you'll always find a room. Currently you may book 11 months in advance of your vacation at your home resort (the resort that you own) and 7 months at any other DVC resort. These booking dates can change, but per our POS, at least a 1 month home resort booking advantage must always exist

Thank you ever so much!

You are ever so welcome!

In persuit of the Mouse,
Dora

Of course I can't resist........

Continue your exploring (of the DVC), Dora!!!!


-Tony

[MouseMagic]

Wow...fantastic site, you all are wonderful. This is great info... Okay to answer some questions....


Okay, so what is an EPCOT wardrobe hostess??

All those pretty matching outfits on everyone? All located in a 'wardrobe' the size of a football field. At the time it was the largest in the world. Cast Members came, were fit for their costumes and later dropped them off for dry cleaning...even the cleaning staff has a costume

Once a year? Less. How often will your partner be willing to go?

Well if left up from me, I'd love to go a couple times a year. My parents were known to take us twice a year and when I was in the college program I went into the parks almost every night from May through August....HOWEVER.....my partner has NEVER BEEN. In fact it took me almost 10 years to get her excited and pro-Disney

The answer does *NOT* depend on your definition of what does *IS* mean, but your answer depends on.....

Do you prefer high end accomidations? Do you prefer more physical room? Will your family just be park commandoes (rushing from attraction to attraction, or will you possibly also vacation to relax, refresh and restore?)

I've stayed all over the park with the exception of the value resorts since they're 'new' in my world... Contemporary is my favorite if only because I assoicate it with most of my trips. Floridian was nice....I enjoyed the Board Walk....back when they had the Disney Institute townhomes...those were nice but far from most of the attractions I love. I'm a solid MK fan...something about walking through that 'tunnel' that makes the vacation start for me....so I like the nicer hotels...but I was worried the DVC homes won't be like staying at the Contemporary

Also, does financing make sense for most or do you find that buying outright is easier?

I'm one of those,"This is a luxury purchase" kinda of guys and believe you should not finance a luxury. I pay for my cars and DVC and guns at the time of purchase. Especially in this economy, which may crash depending on election results in November, I would be very hesitant to finance right now. However, you know your financials better than anyone. (Disney is aroung 10.5% for a 10 year finance. If you have a pulse you qualify, BTW) Also, if I were to expand my DVC holdings Bwahahahahahhahaha (<====evil frog laugh), I would buy resale around November-December when I expect prices to bottom out....

Interesting.... I am JUST looking at the resale information, I didn't know it existed.....although if prices did hit lower around Nov-Dec it would work for us, if this Sept trip goes well that would be when we'd be looking.

I've also found the fantastic source here on Mouse Owners where you can see the yearly fees historic increase (THANK YOU SITE OWNER) {Yes, Kim does rock!!!}.... is it a guaranteed rise per year? Do you ever level out or in fees do you constantly pay what you're going to pay for an outright vacation (granted at a moderate resort)?

There are no guarentees in life. Some years the MFs actually went down! However, assume the average stay right now costs you 450 per night (rack rate), so a week is $3,150. An OKW studio can be as low as 80 points for the same week. Would you rather pay a (hypothetical) 10% increase on $3,150, or $360 (estimated MFs for 80 OKW points)?

Ahhhh nice point.

Also, what would everyone recommend starting with for # of points?
If you buy directly from Disney, you must start with 160 points. Resale can be as small as 25 points (very hard to find said small contract)

What do I recommend? Tell me what times of the year your going to go, what size rooms you want and which resort, and I can answer that for you! Sadly I am just a frog, and not a mind reader

I would think most certainly 1x a year if we all like it....I don't know what resort yet...rooms... we only have the one DD, rather sure we're only going to have the one....so a studio for now, 1 bedroom later. If they actually did make DVC exist at the Contemporary....I'd be sorely tempted to go there.... I do like the Boardwalk..... and perhaps the Wilderness Villas but I'm worried about the difficulty of getting around from there if we choose not to rent a car. Distance is what makes me hesitate on Animal Kingdom and with my "zoo" here at home everyone that knows me is surprised I'm not signing the paperwork on that one now :rolleyes:

Oh...and what better source to tell all about The Mouse than a frog?????

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Dora (happily exploring)

PS...couldn't get a pencil with my name on it growing up...now my DD has socks, shoes and underware with DORA plastered all over it!