Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I have always said DVC is a great deal for people who like to regularly travel to WDW or have more than 2 kids/like to travel with extended family/friends.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'm doing the math right now for a Family Suite Room at the AoA. Roomrate = $320 Florida state sales tax = 6% Osceola County hotel tax= 13.5% $320 + 19.5% = $382.40 per night not including resort fees or internet fees.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "Whatever the reason, WDW's Magic Kingdom remains the most visited park in the world." Only because the OLC cannibalized itself by building a second park and splitting attendance between TDL and TDS. I was there a week ago and trust me, TDL was SLAMMED with people for Halloween! I have NEVER seen crowds like THAT at a theme park. There were times I was ACTUALLY scared there were SO MANY people around me and I have always scoffed at people that say they have safety issues in crowded DL or WDW. You have NOT seen ANYTHING until you visit TDL on a busy day!!!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I can remember when some of the long time cast members at DL said Disney did not consider it crowded until it was enforced closed to capacity. They have always wanted and needed the crowdings.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I did not mean to imply Walt Disney felt that way I meant Corp Disney (sold out Disney)
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I have not priced recent DVC but you are right KT. At 400 per night , one week would equal a good size down payment for DVC ownership to consider.
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan “That being said; my initial comment holds, DVCs are looking like a good investiment for those of us who frequent WDW. And I have actually been on the phone today looking at buying some resale points.” Disney is pushing their vacation club as much as they can. If they can get people hooked on that concept, then they don’t have to worry about empty rooms. It’s essentially an annual pass for rooms. The whole vacation club/time share concept is at it’s breaking point. People are realizing that purchasing into these systems are a lifelong expenditure and that there is little resale potential for most if they decide they can no longer afford the constant association fees associated with their purchase. There are now new businesses blooming, looking to take advantage of those who are trying to get out of their timeshares. If enough people realize that they are not actually getting the long-term benefits they thought the timeshare would provide, there could be a major failure of the system. Not at all a good investment.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Unlike most timeshares, the resale market for DVC is very good. In fact because of increasing prices for points, most people can get as much in resale as they originally paid.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Disney is pushing their vacation club as much as they can.>> I'm going to have to disagree with that statement. I can remember in the past when "Disney's best kept secret" was plastered on the side of every bus on property. <<If they can get people hooked on that concept, then they don’t have to worry about empty rooms.>> The Value resorts rooms are always booked. The Deluxe resort rooms are definately booked. With all the school events like Pop Warner and everything the Moderates typically are always busy. Next May when AoA is open, Disney will be adding an additional 2,000 Family Suite rooms. Disney is pretty confident they can keep everything pretty full. << It’s essentially an annual pass for rooms.>> I'm going to have to disagree. With an annual pass you get to visit as often as you want any time you want. With DVC you are essentionally prepaying for a set number of vacations at todays prices ( or yesterdays prices). You get a fixed number of days each year, you can carry over days or break them up but still it is a fixed number of days. <<The whole vacation club/time share concept is at it’s breaking point.>> I think your "lumping" all timeshares together here. For one thing, yes the entire world is in a huge recession. But what might be going on for RCI doesn't mean it is going on for any other timeshare opportunities. <<People are realizing that purchasing into these systems are a lifelong expenditure and that there is little resale potential for most if they decide they can no longer afford the constant association fees associated with their purchase.>> Everyone has to balance the maintence costs of every experditure they make. Hopefully the idea here is that once the time share is paid off the maintence costs are less than it would otherwise cost for a weeks stay. The problem with Orlando, FL is that they have some of the highest hospitality taxes in the World. I had a friend from Jacksonville, FL vacation in Venice, Italy and complain about the 20% sales tax there. I told him he had to be kidding when the combined County and State hospitality taxes for Orlando are 19.5%. Resale value of DVCs remain high and demand remains high. Seems there are a lot of takers for time shares in Orlando. <There are now new businesses blooming, looking to take advantage of those who are trying to get out of their timeshares. If enough people realize that they are not actually getting the long-term benefits they thought the timeshare would provide, there could be a major failure of the system.>> People are selling timeshares because they are broke. If I was living paycheck to paycheck and got layed off and had to decide between keeping my home or having to sell off assets, then the assets go! Plus, people get divorced. There are lots of reasons why people sell, homes, cars, jewelry and yes timeshares. To say that in general people are selling their DVCs specifically because of the maintence costs I think is a stretch. << Not at all a good investment.>> I just did the math. If you are staying in a AoA resort family suite at roughly $400 a night. It would cost you $2,800 for one week (the cheapest accomidations on property for a family of 6). The Value resort rooms are now hovering just around $100 a night. At those rates if you that your going to be vacationing at WDW for a few years then DVC starts to look good! Something else that should be pointed out is that the DVC properties are definately a step up from the family suite accomidations at AoA resort. And all the DVC properties are in better locations and have more amenities than the family suite rooms at AoA resort. So in some respect you truely are comparing apples to oranges.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 it's funny how most nay sayer's haven't done a stitchof homework- nor talked to DVC owners -- so why the negativity. I have news for you- when I bought in 17 years ago time shares had a bad connotation, which is why I did not take the tour the first time we stayed there. BUT all time shares are not created equal. many at that time locked you to a specific week every year- no changes- no options to use points outside your initial holding and were run by cash poor groups. Before Disney DVC becomes a financial issue - the entire corp would be in trouble- a major collapse. Do you see that happening DL Fan ? Your beloved DK would be in trouble by that time also. As RT said I know people who have sold thheir DVC for more than they paid for it after using it for 10 years -- People's priorities change and as I have always said , DVC is NOT for everyone and every circumstance..it just isn't. But when it works for you it works very very well. And like KT said -- many people who had plenty of money 5-10 years ago are unemployed, underemployed and prospects look dim right now. I would sell in that case too-- sell DVC - sell extra cars etc. Does that mean any commodity should not be purchased out of fear ? No.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The important thing here is no financial decision should be entered lightly or impulsively. And DL Fan you sound like someone who doesn't do too much impulsive buying. DVCs are not for everyone. Everyone's circumstances are different and may change over time. I'm just saying that at the current per night room rates for on WDW property accomidations for a family of 4 or greater, and you know your going to make repeat visits to WDW, to me it looks good.
