re: Disney Vacation Club: Is it worth it?

Timeshares are like pools. Buy it if you want it but it’s deff not an investment it’s a money pit.

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Going in 3 vacations per year is too much.

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What makes it dumb? Some people rather treat their families to experiences rather than material clutter. We generally travel to Disney once every 2 or so years, but probably take 3/4 vacations.

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Going to the same, overpriced amusement park three times per year is impossibly dumb.

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Again that’s your own opinion, if you can afford it, why the hell not? Orlando generally isn’t an expensive flight.

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Going in 3 vacations per year is too much. Sorry, but you’re wasting your cash and spoiling your kids and wife.

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so much lulz here.

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What’s the catch?

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Well, youre spending $29K and adding taxes, interest, etc. Plus, its $1,247 a year for the dues. And your contract ends in 2070. So over that 50 years that's another $62,325, minimum. For a grand total of over 100K at todays rates. And you still have to buy your park tickets each trip

150 points gets you 5 nights during a season when kids can go, and allows up to 5 people in a room. So based on todays rates youre paying over $400 a night when you factor in the purchase price and the annual dues.


But, If you decide instead to purchase one annual pass, it will cost you less than the annual dues!! And you pay about the same room rates. For instance, in June the passholder rates are $444 a night at the Riviera.

160 points gets you a standard view deluxe studio at Riviera for a week, during the summer season.

160 points x 195 a point = $31K roughly.

Annual dues are $8.31/month at that resort, so $1330 a year, or $190 a night.

It's currently a 50 year deed, so 31K over 50 years = $620 a year using a straight line amortization.

I'm assuming that the annual increase in dues is equal to the annual increase in room rates if you stay at a disney hotel.

So $1330 plus $620 = $1950 for 7 nights. If you are planning on spending $1,950 on hotel for 7 nights at disney, every year, then it might be worthy of consideration.

That's if you pay cash for the points. If you finance the points, the break-even is even higher.

If you buy a resale, the initial purchase price is less, yes, but it's also a shorter term. And the dues remain the same.

The best time to buy into DVC was 10-15 years ago. The prices to buy direct, like everything else as Disney, has skyrocketed.

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Annual dues $8-$9 a point annually plus the yearly 3% increases. Will cost over 150k over life of contract

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Yeah this isn't even remotely true.

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I have friends with 2 boys who probably go to Disney 5 or 6 times a year. They belong to DVC b/c they mention it all the time.

They just got off the 4 day Disney cruise out of Nola this morning. Their boys are getting older though... can't wait for them to start bitching about only going to Disney World on every vacation. I would have hated that as a kid... unless of course, they're gay, then maybe they enjoy it.

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Yeah even I will admit that is a little much. Do they live around Nola?

I’m a DVC owner and really enjoy Disney (I still say if you’re heavily impacted by crowds or one of those people who needs another vacation after Disney then you’re doing it wrong) but that has in no way impacted my ability to take other trips to other areas of the country and/or the world.

I would not own DVC if it hamstrung my ability to do other things. But I have a feeling I’m closer to the minority on that one.

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Do they live around Nola?

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Yes, in Metairie. The parents are Disney freaks (Mom worked there in that college program) and they had their honeymoon there. The parents even go by themselves without the kids once a year. I just don't get it.

The boys are like 9 and 11 now and heavy into sports. I would think Disney is going to get old soon. I'd want to go camping, visit the mountains, visit some American cities that aren't Orlando, or for the coin they must be dropping, do Europe or something.

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This. Just got back. Went with a friend who is DVC member. It was a totally different experience. She knew how to play the game. We never waited in lines at all. We saw all the new stuff at Star Wars, even the stuff it is "impossible to get". Oba's cantina was my favorite but the Resistance was damn nice too and flying the MF was an experience. Also, if you ever go, book the extended hours parties, they make all the difference.

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Yep, I’ve said it 100 times if you go to Disney and you are spending all day in lines you are doing something wrong. If you go to Disney and you complain how exhausted you are, you’re doing it wrong.