Originally Posted By tfdeere Hi Everyone! I need some advice about our DVC membership. My wife and I bought into DVC about a year an a half ago. We purchased 210 points at Saratoga Springs. Since then, we’ve become somewhat unhappy with DVC and are trying to decide if we should sell it or not. Overall, it does look like a good value, but we are just not sure. Here’s some of the reasons why we would want to sell: 1.) Since we didn’t have the $15,000 up front, we took the loan offered by DVC. It would be nice to have that $300 a month that we pay into DVC available for something else. 2.) We were told it was easy to book at some of the partner hotels outside of Disney. My wife and I love Hawaii. We were there for our honeymoon, and this got us interested right away. Turns out though that to go to Hawaii, you need to get on a waiting list at least two years in advance, and that doesn’t even guarantee you a spot. 3.) room service is a big one for us. I realize it’s available for a fee, but for what the DVC costs, it would be nice to get towls or something more often than every four to five days. 4.) The food offerings at the DVC hotels don’t seem to be as good as other hotels. But, I do realize these are more deluxe resorts and they don’t have the food courts and such. OK, so with all that, we thought we should sell. But here’s our reasons not to… 1.) It is a good value in the long run. After we have the loan paid off, besides annual dues, it will be like getting a room for free. 2.) We love Disney and plan on going down once a year 3.) We just had our first child and it would be great to keep the membership for him. So, should we sell or not. I guess right now I think I do want to sell, and am wondering if anyone can provide some things that are pluses about the DVC that I’m not seeing? Or, if you have any advice on how to sell your membership, that would be great as well! On a side note, I’ve also heard of people selling out some of their points each year to help offset the cost….has anyone done this? Thanks everyone!!!!!!! tfdeere
Originally Posted By DlandJB Maybe it is a little too soon to decide? I imagine with a new baby that the extra monthly money would be welcome, but in the long run, do you think the DVC will save you money? Since you do have a little one now, maybe you will be grateful for the DVC as you will likely make more trips to WDW with a child in the house. No one can really answer that question but you. I didn't know Hawaii had such a wait, and I'm glad to know this now since we have been thinking of going in a couple of years so it is good to know we'd need to plan for when now. We have only been members for a year. We had a fabulous long weekend in San Francisco at the Fairmont -- 2 adjoining rooms -- so we could go and see the Disneyland exhibit at the Oakland museum. It was a wonderful trip. This summer we will venture down to Saratoga Springs for the first time. So far it has been very easy to plan. You might want to talk with the sales rep that sold you the points and see if he/she can't be of some help with working out your concerns...or at least point you to someone who can.
Originally Posted By forcemejure Hmm, I'm going to argue the other side and say I think you should sell. 1) It sounds like the $300/month is putting a pinch on your budget. 2) You're not happy with the food or service. This isn't going to change. Not everyone is happy vacationing in timeshares. If anything, I think the food and service issues become MORE acute once you have children. 3) DVC is NOT a good investment vehicle if you want to "leave something" for your child. ESPECIALLY if you're financing it. A college savings plan or an investment account are both much better choices. Also, what happens if your kid is one of those folks that just isn't "into it"? 4) You can always buy back in later when you're in a better financial position. Its not like DVC is going to just up and disappear. Just my 2 cents. Take it for what its worth.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<3) DVC is NOT a good investment vehicle if you want to "leave something" for your child. >> I don’t believe they wanted DVC to pass the property on to their child, but wanted it so that their child could experience Disney frequently while he/she was young. <<So, should we sell or not. I guess right now I think I do want to sell, and am wondering if anyone can provide some things that are pluses about the DVC that I’m not seeing? Or, if you have any advice on how to sell your membership, that would be great as well!>> As far as the overall value of DVC... If you don't plan to use the great majority of the points at DVC resorts it really isn't worth it. Although you can use your points elsewhere, it is not always advantageous to do so. When using your points for the Disney Collection or the Concierge Collection, you can usually get a reservation when you want but the value is not as good as at a DVC Resort. When you trade your points to other time share companies for the "World Passport Collection" the values are pretty good but as you discovered it can be hard to get the times you want. There is no doubt that the Food Courts at Disney's Moderate Resorts are far superior to any counter service restaurant at either a Disney Deluxe or DVC Resort. If a great food court is important to you, DVC might not be a great choice. As far as room service goes, it has added fees at any Disney Resort, so I don't think that makes much difference. The DVC meal thing has worked well for us. We buy quick stuff to have in the morning for breakfast (cereal, bread for toast, pastries, etc.) which saves considerable money over what you would pay at a food court. For lunch and dinner we are usually at a theme park anyway, so the dining facilities at our resort don’t make us much difference. We've been in DVC for almost 8 years now. It is the largest purchase we’ve ever made that we never had second thoughts about. We bought 200 points in 1999 and another 110 points last January. We love DVC. But I would be the first person to say it is not for everyone. If it fits your vacation style it is great. If it doesn't, don't buy. By the way, if you want to sell your points I would advise waiting another couple of years. Then you should be able to sell them for at least what you paid for them. Right now you would probably take a loss if you include closing costs etc.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I think he meant housekeeping when he said room service.>> Yep... you are of course right. I should have read more closely. I believe you can get additional towels by request whenever you want... not just on "trash and towel" day. We like to sleep LATE at times, or just hang out in the room during the day; so we find the absence of daily housekeeping to be a plus. Since we are two adults with no kids the place never really gets dirty anyway. Our housekeeper at home only comes once every two weeks. I think I can get along with once a week at DVC!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Yep... you are of course right. I should have read more closely. I believe you can get additional towels by request whenever you want... not just on "trash and towel" day. < yes you can, there is a nominal charge if that's what one wants, however I am with you Trippy, the frequency works just fine for us and that is for 2 adults and 2 kids.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct Here is a very good analysis with an excel spreadsheet showing the cost breakdown <a href="http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html" target="_blank">http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc .html</a>
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct In the following scenarios, DVC purchase beats investing the money (buy-in amount plus annual fees) and paying cash for your annual vacations: You vacation for 10 nights every year in a Deluxe resort or DVC studio at full "rack rates." In this scenario, you'll start saving money after 9 years or less of DVC ownership. In fact, if this is your vacation style, DVC is still a good deal even if you would only stay those 10 nights in a DVC resort every other year and throw away 50% of your points (though it will take longer to break even -- about 19 years). You stay 10 nights at a Deluxe resort each year, with a 30% discount (approx. 15 years to break even). You vacation for 10 nights each year at a Moderate resort, paying full "rack rates" (approx. 20 years to break even). You rent 150 points from a DVC owner each year, starting at $10 a point, for at least the next 25 years. DVC purchase is not cost-effective in the following scenarios: You vacation 7 nights per year at a Moderate resort, paying full "rack rates." You vacation 10 nights per year at a Moderate resort, with a 35% discount. You rent 150 points per year from a DVC owner, starting at $10 a point, but you only do this 2 years out of every 3.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct Even after knowing all of that .. I think it comes down to : 1. If you afford the payments comfortably - then GREAT ! if not, then I have a problem with that. 2. An emotional desire. Hey, if you want to be part of DVC and it brings you joy - then just except it and ENJOY!!!
Originally Posted By crazyformickey Like said above DVC isn't for everyone. If you do not think you will be using it at least once a year it may not be for you. If you do think within a few years I know we will be going quite a bit keep this in mind. Cost per point has been going up quite a bit. When I first joined I think we were around $78 a point. Animal Kindom I believe is now going for $101. Just think if you sold now and decided to rebuy in a few years how much more those same points could cost you. Remember too DVC members get discounts on all kinds of things. AP passes, Special events like P & P Party, MVMCP and MNSSHP. Discounts for Disneystore.com and more.
Originally Posted By JaytheSkipper If you truly vacation at Disney every year and would use your points DVC is going to be a good value especially once the loan is paid off and your child is older. However, housekeeping policies and food options are not going to get better. You may wish to make a point of staying for less time and staying in a Deluxe Resort instead of a DVC resort. This will give you housekeeping and better food options, however, if Disney has their way, eventually you will not have any hotel options b/c there will be a DVC resort at all onsite hotels. Bottom line though, if you cannot swing the 300 a month, you should sell. I hope this helps. Good Luck!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I've been holding out to post to this, reading what others had to say. My opinionn is simple. It's like you are asking a bunch of Chevy owners if you should sell your Chevy, and to please talk you out of selling it. Only you can decide what is best for you. I will say that I don't think right now is a good time to sell financially.
