DVC Blog - Issue #4 - Points

Uncovering Disney’s Best Kept Secret – The Disney Vacation Club

Issue 4

Points – How to get them…without joining DVC. Shhh, it’s a secret.

Ok, so now you have decided to at least consider buying into DVC. You have looked at all the alternatives and you are ready to dive in. WAIT! Don’t go yet. There is another thing you need to know. There is a way to get all of the benefits of DVC without paying for a full membership.

Within the DVC contract there is a provision that allows members to “occasionally” rent or give their points to others. There are 3 main reasons that you would want to rent points instead of buying a membership. One, if you want to take DVC for a test drive before you buy. Go and rent some points for your next trip and see if you like it. Two, if you only vacation at Disney occasionally (i.e. every 5 years or so). That way you get all of the perks without buying into DVC. Third, you like the luxury but you don’t want the long term commitment. This is certainly the least expensive way to get DVC bonuses without the full membership.

Here is a simple version of how renting works. A DVC member finds they can not use their points before they expire or they are want to earn some extra cash. They list these points on one of many third part websites. (There is a list of some of these sites at the end of the blog. We don’t recommend any of them. The list is just for your reference.) The renter will go to one of the sites and find someone that has around the number of points that they need. Once contacted and finalization of the deal, the member will go to DVC and make the reservation in the renters name, you will technically be their guest. When the renter shows up at the resort, they are treated as if they are a member.

The cost for the points will vary depending on the time of year and how much the individual wants to charge, but you can typically find points at about $10 -$14 each. That means that our stay from the last blog would cost $330 a night vs. the $450 with cash. You would also get all of the perks, including the discounts on shopping, attractions and dining. Remember, as a guest of a member you get treated the same as the member.

There are a few things to be watchful for. Though 99% of the points out there are legit, you are dealing with individuals are not officially connected with Disney or DVC. There are some sites that will offer you templates for contracts that you can sign to somewhat legalize the deal. There are also sites that work as intermediaries between buyer and seller. You will pay a premium for those points ($2-3 more per point) but there is more security that things will be legit. You also run the risk of not being able to get the reservation you want. Members have a window to make reservations starting at 11 months from the date they want to stay. Unfortunately, most members do not make the decision to rent their points until they are well within that window and their points are nearing expiration. You could spend a couple of days negotiating price with a member and then find out that there are no rooms available for when you want to stay. This is very common around the busy times like the Christmas holiday, during the summer and Spring Break time.

One major downfall for this method is the total cost. Remember, when renting points they are a one time use. You pay for the stay and it’s over. Consider buying your own membership and then renting your points when you are not going to be able to use them.

So now you know about renting points. For those that still want to join the family, stay tuned for our next edition where we will start a series called, “I’m Sold! Now What?” In this series, we will be looking at all the things you need to know before you sign the contract.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney

DVC Boards:
www.disboards.com/forumsdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/dvcrent
www.mouseowners.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36

NOTE: We do not recommend any of these sites, nor do we sponsor or are sponsored by any of these sites. These are only provided as references and we can not be responsible for any transactions on these or any other DVC rental sites.

If you would like to comment on this blog, please join us on the DVC Message Boards at Walt's Basement. If you are not a member of Walt’s Basement, just contact us at waltsbasement@charter.net and we will get you signed up.
If you are interested in more information about joining DVC, please drop me a note and I will get you connected with my great DVC rep. To be fair, I do get a gift when I recommend people to DVC.

DVC Blog - Issue #3 - Join the Family

Uncovering Disney’s Best Kept Secret – The Disney Vacation Club

Issue 3

Deciding to Join the Family

Disney, and most DVC members, see DVC as a family. Fortunately this is the family you choose, not the one you are born into. And like real family, deciding to join DVC is a serious commitment. Remember DVC is a time share system. You are purchasing a real estate share of your DVC home resort. This contract with DVC is not forever though. All DVC resorts are sold with a 50 year contract. The expiration of your contract depends on the resort you purchase. Most resorts expire in 2042, while Saratoga Springs Resort expires in 2054 and Animal Kingdom Villas expire in 2057. Don’t worry if you don’t think you are going to make it that long, DVC is fully willable to your children or your favorite blogger.

Now that you know you are going to be jumping in for the long haul, let’s look and see if DVC is the right thing for you. Your first consideration in joining should be frequency and location of your vacations. If your employment, family situation or personal desires only have you going on a vacation once every 3-4 years, DVC might not be right for you. If all your vacations are spent visiting Grandma in the“Town You Grew Up In”, USA, DVC might not be right for you. If you travel at least once every 2 years and you love, or at least like Disney, and you want the flexibility to travel any time of the year, anywhere in the world, take a closer look at DVC.

Since you meet the criteria above and want to move on, consider if the expense of joining DVC is worth the cost for you. Currently DVC is selling points for about $105 a point. With the minimum buy in at 160 points, you are going to spend at least $17,600 to get in. It seems like a lot of money but remember this is a long term investment. Let’s compare this to some alternatives. To be fair, let’s compare everything to a DVC 1 bedroom, for a 6 night/7 day trip during June.

A DVC 1 bedroom condo comes with a master bedroom with a king size bed and master bath, a full kitchen, a pull out sofa for 2, a shower and a Jacuzzi tub, and a full washer and dryer. In addition, you get to enjoy all of the things we talked about in the last edition, including the discounts on attractions, shopping and dining, the free transportation on site and to and from the airport, access to the Disney Dining Plan, and the Extra Magic hours. This room will cost about 200 points, thus your initial buy in would cost you $21,000.

Alternative #1: Offsite hotel

You can get some great rates offsite near Disney. Let’s say $100 a night, but you need 2 rooms to compare with DVC fairly, so 6 nights will run you $1,200 for lodging. Since you don’t have a kitchen or washer and dryer, you will need to pay more for food and bring more clothes (think $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second). You will also need to rent a car to get to Disney and you will pay $8-10 a day for parking. This will total up to at least $1,800 for the room and extras. Calculated out, do this for 12 years and you have reached the cost of a DVC membership.

Alternative #2: Offsite condo

Though the pricing will be similar to DVC, there are many disadvantages to staying offsite. Many condos offsite are a further drive than the hotels (more gas @ $4 a gallon), and you will still need to rent a car and pay for parking. The added distance will take time away from your enjoyment of the parks. Many condos are 30-45 minutes away from WDW property. You will not get any of the discounts or extras that DVC members get. Worst of all, with most other time shares, you are locked into a specific week, so if you don’t go that week, too bad.

Alternative #3: Disney Resort hotel

You can get a value resort for about $100 a night and a nicer room for $200. Let’s split the difference and say $300 a night (2 rooms, remember). That would be $1,800 for the trip and you can use Disney transportation to save money. You also get the Extra Magic Hours and access to the Disney Dining Plan, but miss out on other things. No shopping and attraction discounts, and no kitchen and washer and dryer. So if this trip ran you $2,000, you would reach the cost of membership in just over 10 years.

Alternative #4: Paying cash for a DVC resort

Yes, you can pay to stay at DVC. You will pay about $430 a night for the 1 bedroom. That’s $2,580 for the 6 night stay. You would have most of the benefits as a DVC member but you would not get the discounts that DVC members get. Go this way and in 8.1 years, you would buy your membership.

Though it is really more cost effective to buy into the DVC, please take the time to consider your personal finances and your ability to pay for DVC. The last thing anyone wants is for you to join DVC and not be able to afford to keep it. Take stock of your personal situation and consult with your significant other before jumping in.

Your final consideration should be if DVC will get you where you want to go. The best way to do this would be to sit down with your family and figure out where you might want to vacation over the next 10 years. Then go to www.disneyvacationclub.com or call DVC (I know a great cast member that would love to help you, email me) and find out if they can get you there. With hundreds of locations around the world, chances are they will be able to.

Take a deep breath. The cost can be overwhelming, but if you understand the value, you may be ready to move on. Don’t write the check yet! Next time, we are going to look at different ways to get the points. That’s right, you don’t have to buy from DVC. Shhhh, that’s a secret.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney

If you would like to comment on this blog, please join us on the DVC Message Boards at Walt's Basement. If you are not a member of Walt’s Basement, just contact us at waltsbasement@charter.net and we will get you signed up.

If you are interested in more information about joining DVC, please drop me a note and I will get you connected with my great DVC rep. To be fair, I do get a gift when I recommend people to DVC.

DVC Blog - Issue #2 - That's what it's all about.

Uncovering Disney’s Best Kept Secret – The Disney Vacation Club
Issue 2

So what is Disney’s Best Kept Secret all about?

The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney’s foray into the world of time share properties. It was started with the Old Key West resort in 1991 and continues to grow today. When you buy into the DVC you are essentially purchasing a real estate interest in the DVC. This plan is different from most time share systems though. Instead of buying a specific week of travel, with DVC you are buying a designated number of points per year (called a use year) that you can use to meet your flexible vacation needs.

Contrary to popular belief, the DVC points do not restrict you to just Disney vacations. Of course you can use them at any one of the 8 current DVC properties (3 new properties on the horizon as well). They can also be used at any of Disney resorts around the world including Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Points can be used to sail away on a Disney cruise or see the world in a different way with Adventures by Disney. Finally the points can be used in the World Passport and Concierge Collection to stay at hotels and condos in hundreds of location world wide.

Now that you are thinking about traveling the world, let’s talk about the other bonuses you get as a DVC member. While visiting Disney properties, there are many discounts on things like dining, shopping, Annual Passes, and activities on property. You are also able to use the free Disney transportation, including the Magical Express from the Orlando airport. Another great benefit is the ability to attend the Extra Magic hours at the parks to enjoy the parks before or after the general public can. And for you pin collectors, there are special DVC pins released throughout the year for members only.

Since DVC is thought of as a family, there are always events to get to know the rest of the family. There are the Welcome Home Wednesday events year round and during the holiday season, they also have DVC Merry Mixers for members. You can also sail the seas with the annual DVC Member Only cruise. While you are away from Disney you can get your fix with the DVC “Members Only” website and the DVC “Disney Files” magazine written for members.

Now I hate to burst your bubble, but all of these great things don’t come for free, unless you were the winner of the DVC membership in Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams. Look for our next blog entry “Deciding to Join the Family” to help you decide of the cost is worth it for you and your family.


“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney

If you would like to comment on this blog, please join us on the DVC Message Boards at Walt's Basement. If you are not a member of Walt’s Basement, just contact us at waltsbasement@charter.net and we will get you signed up.

If you are interested in more information about joining DVC, please drop me a note and I will get you connected with my great DVC rep. To be fair, I do get a gift when I recommend people to DVC.

Welcome to our DVC blog - Issue #1

Thank you for stopping by our, “Uncovering Disney’s Best Kept Secret – The Disney Vacation Club” blog, here at Walt’s Basement. To begin, it would be impossible to reveal the entire secret in one or even a dozen blog entries, so please be patient, we plan on getting to it all, or at least the important stuff. Over the next few months we will be unraveling the Disney Vacation Club (DVC), sharing official Disney information, insider secrets and tips, and telling you about parts of the DVC that Disney might not want you to know about. Along with this somewhat regular, always informative blog, you can go to the message boards at Walt's Basement on the DVC Message Boards and leave your comments, questions, tips and secrets. Who knows, your insights and information might just make it into a future edition of the blog. If you are not a member of Walt’s Basement, just contact us at waltsbasement@charter.net and we will get you signed up.

Thank you again for stopping by and we look forward to telling you more about DVC and getting you know you on the boards.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney

If you would like to comment on this blog, please join us on the DVC Message Boards at Walt's Basement. If you are not a member of Walt’s Basement, just contact us at waltsbasement@charter.net and we will get you signed up.

If you are interested in more information about joining DVC, please drop me a note and I will get you connected with my great DVC rep.