Out here now - DVC tour help

[LawrenceFamily]

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Hi all

We are at Disney currently and have booked onto a DVC tour at Saratoga tomorrow.

We have been to Disney for the past 5 years so consider ourselves relatively clued up, but we know nothing about DVC!

We just got chatting to someone at AK and DH thought it sounded good but we just would appreciate some DIBB input on how it works, whether it's realistically worth it, pro/cons... not just the sales pitch tomorrow.

Thanks so much!

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

I've been a member since 2005, own at BWV and BLT. Never regretted it ever. Best advice is buy where you would most like to stay, don't rely on being able to switch even though it is possible and have your use year just before you usually go away i.e. June if you usually go in summer, give you most options to reschedule if things don't go to plan any time.

[BarryandCaron]

We own at BLT. My advice is don’t sign up whilst over there. Take your time and look into all the pros and cons. Too many people buy DVC without fully understanding it.

I agree to but where you want to stay. Also, look into resale.

[BevS97]

Loads of info on this thread about how it works.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...d.php?t=823621


My advice is to go and look around but don’t sign anything tomorrow. You can always call them and buy later if you want too.
We bought resale and it’s about half the price so it’s important to spend some time considering if that’s a good option for you. The sales people won’t want you to buy resale so you need to investigate separately before you decide.

We bought about 10 years ago and have never regretted BUT we bought when £1=$2 and we bought resale, so our initial investment was only £8000. I don’t know if I’d have been so keen at full Disney prices and the current exchange rate.

Also remember you have to pay annual dues, And the cost of annual dues would get you basic accommodation in Orlando, so it’s not free accommodation it’s an opportunity to stay in upgraded accommodation. We pay £600-£800/year and get to stay at The Boardwalk or other deluxe resort. We would never be able to stay there normally so it’s a thrill for me every time we stay.

And you still need to book flights and buy tickets. And you don’t get free Dining, so all of these expenses have to be factored into your future holiday costs.

[dvc]

We've been members since 2003. We go every two years for 3 weeks and own at BCV. We didn't sign up on the tour, we looked in October and signed up the following May. We did our sums comparing it to a static caravan in Cornwall. It worked out better for us than Cornwall. We love it. We get 11 month booking window at our home resort and 7 month window at other DVC resorts.
Have a good look around, come home and then decide would be my advice.

[KarenG]

Don't sign up over there. You'll be in the Disney bubble, holiday mode, and the Sales person will do his/her best to get you to sign. It's not high pressure sales at all, but it can be easy to get caught up in the moment.


Come home, do some research (particularly into what resale can save you - a massive amount). If you still want to buy direct, you can do it over the phone.

[YorkshireT]

Don't sign anything. Consider resale. Do 3 months research minimum. There is a lot lot more to consider than they'll say. No need to sign now, they only just increased prices.

[dippiedawnie]

Really important to think about what time of year you will generally be going and what type of room you would want so you know how many points to buy. We have owned since 2000 at BWV and at the time bought enough points for 2 of us to stay in a studio every year for 14days off peak. We then had kids so now have to go during school holidays so get less night and only go every 2 years.
Never regretted it but it was $2 -£1 when we bought and DVC had only been around a few years so price per point wasn't as much. Think our initial investment was 6k. First trip back we took the whole family in a 2 bed for 12 nights and that would have cost us as much in cash!

[saratogajan]

We bought resale in 2014 after 2 dvc tours , the first one being in 1997. We made sure we understood everything and it was the right time for us. Ask lots of questions but as others have said come away and work out what's best for you.

[Talland 2016]

Have fun on your tour
Let us know what you think