re: Timeshare advice

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The real issue I see is that by the time you are finished financing it for ten years with a 11.5% APR, you end up basically doubling the initial cost.

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Why isn't this a deal breaker for you? You said you wanted to go once every other year - so 5 times over that 10 year period. So divide every dime of the 10 year cost by the number of days you'll actually use it during that 10 year period.

Consider the alternative of putting the same amount of money (not just the monthly note), into an investment account. If you have to do the Disney thing, then also get a Disney Rewards credit card and use the rewards it earns to offset the costs of paying for your vacation at a hotel of your choosing every 2 years out of the savings (with interest YOU keep) of your own. This ensures that no one gets rich off of you. Your money stays with you. I guarantee you'll come out better in the long term, with fewer commitments and greater flexibility. They would not be offering you this deal if they did not believe that it was a better deal for them. You should make your own better deal instead.

Your wife may like Disney now, but another couple of repetitions through the same damn thing may change that quickly. Wives are fickle creatures.

Divorce rates are also high. Since you don't know what the future holds, keep your financial obligations to assets that are more liquid than a timeshare.

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I think I pay around $300 or so.

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i have way more points than you plus one of my home resorts is so hard to get in to it jacks up the annual fees also. so of course i will pay quite alot more than you. simple math.

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Has anyone bought into time shares through RCI? Is there anything to worry about?

My wife has been wanting to get a Disney timeshare (partnered through RCI) since our honeymoon in January. She got her first full time job this summer, and I have two years left in my doctoral program. Thus we currently have enough to afford a basic package. However, I'm trying to figure out how worth it having a timeshare really is.

I talked with a booking agent today, and I seem pretty convinced that it will be worthwhile. If we open a deed for 50pts we get 4-5 nights off peak season, and 3 nights during peak. The other nice feature is that unused points roll over for one year, and you can steal points from the next year. Also, you are able to travel anywhere with the RCI system.

So for 5K split over 10 years for a 45 year lease, I feel that this is a very good deal. However, I was wondering if anyone was aware of any hidden issues to look out for?

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Not reading all that. All I can say is I can't see any reason for buying a timeshare anywhere except for the secondary market. They still trade at pennies on the dollar from what I understand.

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So you're looking forward to getting stuck with the Disney timeshare crowd on even more vacations for the rest of your life?

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i really do not think you know or understand what they offer. You sound like you are stuck on some tour guided trip or something you saw on adventures by Disney. You can go to destinations all over the globe by yourself that are not guided tours. and no, not just dvc members stay in those places/resorts. far from it. Plenty of people at disney parks are not DVC members as well. I really do not know where you are getting that info. and yes, i have done carnival cruises before also...

darn i was stuck on that ship with all those people who had cruised before! how terrible!

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Timeshares in general are stupid,

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many are. but mine and broke's has unreal flexibility. you are not stuck in one resort like so many. you can exchange out and go anywhere and do most anything with ours. mine has paid for itself a few times over. costs way more to stay where we stay as a non-member. not even close.



Sorry for timesharing

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My wife has been wanting to get a Disney timeshare (partnered through RCI) since our honeymoon in January. She got her first full time job this summer, and I have two years left in my doctoral program. Thus we currently have enough to afford a basic package. However, I'm trying to figure out how worth it having a timeshare really is.

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I looked into this back in February. I'm against timeshares in general, but DVC does it right in comparison to the rest of the industry.

After mulling it over, I decided I did not want to take cash out of the bank to pay for the "buy-in" fee, plus I didn't want to commit to a 40 + year lease. Too many things can change in that period of time and I didn't want to risk losing that much of my "investment."

It just wasn't for me, but it could easily be for you.

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I am 26, married in January, and I'm still not making real money for two more years until I finish.

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I bought in when i was 28. don't rush it.

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talked about maybe buying in now, and paying it off in just a couple of years.

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good idea IF you can. If not keep using the monthly financing they have provided you. no rush.

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We had also thought about buying more points at a different hotel in a few years.

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You can do that as well. we have also and have two home resorts now. Look, my opinion is get all your other financial stuff straight FIRST, do NOT rush into this, then when you are ready you can buy in if it is for you. Worst case scenario buy 100 points and if you do not like it then sell it. You may have to sell a little under what you paid(worst case scenario) but it is not like losing your behind in other investment vehicles. Then again, you may break even or even make a profit but do not count on it. We have sold a week at a time when we could not make it. works out great getting rent money for what we already basically paid off. Different resorts have different annual fees. that is the biggest question you need to ask. Even once it is paid off you will always have annual fees for upkeep and maintenance. Ask about them UP FRONT.