Thinking of joining...

[Jordan]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are thinking of joining the DVC and had a few questions for all of you professionals. We usually go to WDW every year, so we think this may be worth while. We would want to buy into the Beach Club Villas. Does anyone know what the "maintanence fee" is per point at this resort? I have read conflicting things that your membership is for 50 years, and other sites state they expire in less than that time. How difficult is is to get into the resort if you book the 11 months in advance? (We would choose either Sept. or Dec.) How have your experiences been here? Has anyone stayed in the studio, and if so would you compare the size to a normal hotel room? Would you recommend going directly through the DVC or through a resale firm? (I see that at this time the DVC is offering $1500.00 back). Thanks in advance! :)

[Mickeymac]

Does anyone know what the "maintanence fee" is per point at this resort?
If I'm reading my chart right, it's $3.9728/pt per month

I have read conflicting things that your membership is for 50 years, and other sites state they expire in less than that time.
Current memberships expire in year 2042. I have heard they may boost that to 2052, but that's not what I was told.

Would you recommend going directly through the DVC or through a resale firm? (I see that at this time the DVC is offering $1500.00 back).
I think you have to do the numbers - one thing I've found is that buying through resale is more difficult - not only are you competing for everyone else buying one membership, but you are also competing against Disney, who has first right of refusal on the property.

I'm sure one of the pros will be along shortly. :D when are you planning on going down? They anticipate selling out at BCV sometime late this spring/early summer.

[Jordan]

Thanks for your quick reply, I really appriciate the information!

[Mickeymac]

Well, do me a favor and let me know what you find out, too - we are looking into it as well, but have no set date to go down yet. We were looking at a property through resale, but someone else got to it before us (and the agent didnt' tell us) Now, DH doesn't feel that the BCV is worth it (since he found out that OKW overlooks a golf course - sheesh) and wants to hold out.

How far along are you in the process? Have you been on a tour yet?

[Jordan]

We are still in the looking stages. We were down there last September and got to peek in the models that were at the Boardwalk. Our friends are in the DVC at the Wilderness lodge, so I've been asking her questions as well. We requested more info back in September, and still haven't received it. I did get a phone call about 3 weeks ago, (finally!) and they said they would send out the info. right away and have a rep call us. Well, we're still waiting. Maybe they're real busy or short staffed you never know. I just want to get all the info. together to give to my husband. He said if I get all the facts and figures together he'll go over it with me, and we'll figure out if financially it makes sence. Thanks for the heads up that they may sell out soon, I'll definetly move faster than I would have. In a previos post someone mentioned they got free nights at the Poly. and Beach Club as an incentive to join the DVC. Are they still doing this? My friend that is already in the DVC heard that they might build a vacation club at the Grand Floridian. Have you heard any truth to this rumor?

[dcfromva]

Jordan,
Hi! It looks like Mickeymac has answered most of your questions. My home resort is BCV, but I have only stayed there once in a 2 BR unit (it was a dedicated unit--so I can't tell much about the studios). My contract ends in 2042. I haven't heard of any extensions.
Should you buy through Disney or a resale? Good question. With Disney, they will provide financing (interest rates are kind of high, though). Disney will also pay all the closing costs. With the Magical Beginnings program, they take $10 off the price of each point and you sell back to Disney your first year's worth of points. (I have heard that they have been doing creative things--such as making you use-year September and buying back your 2002 points---which means in Sept 2003, you get all your points. Don't know if that is just a special deal for someone or not)...
With a resale, Disney has been exercising their right of first refusal quite a bit lately on resales with point values of less than $70.00 per point. It takes longer to close on the resale (and sometimes after all the other trouble you've gone to, the seller backs out of the sale before it closes. Also, the purchaser pays the closing costs (I have heard it is around $400) and sometimes maintenence fees. However, even still, a resale could be a good deal if you came across a nice juicy contract that had banked points from a previous year....

-DC :ears:

[Slowhand]

When we joined the DVC way back in 1992, we were told that 2042 was the year when Disney`s lease expires on their land in Florida.
Can`t see the state of Florida kicking them out though!

[Mickeymac]

they might build a vacation club at the Grand Floridian. Have you heard any truth to this rumor?

Yes, but I highly doubt it. From BCV, they will have Sarasota Springs, then move onto the unnamed Eagle Pines Golf resort (est sometime in 2005-6) So, if they do do something with the Grand Floridian, it would be waaaay in the future.

Where that comes from, I believe, is the current expansion and renovation at the Shades of Green resort, which is a military-only resort. It's right next to the Grand Floridian.

[OKWTink]

The Grand Floridian rumour has been around for awhile. There are some plans (and artists renditions) of a DVC going in next to the golf course closest to MK. I asked my guide about it a couple of weeks ago and she said with the focus now on Saratoga Springs there hasn't been much said about the MK area DVC.

Mickeymac, this is probably the best time to try to wait for an OKW resale. Trying economic times and social unrest sometimes result in folks having to sell their contracts. :(

Booking 11 months out is usually no problem. There was a lottery system a few years ago for the Christmas season, but they've not repeated that, so I'm guessing there is no need to. (If I remember correctly it was for the turn of the millenium, 1999 to 2000).

I've never heard anyone in an official capacity say that the contracts would be extended beyond 2042. The buildings are being constructed with that longevity in mind.

[Jordan]

Thank you! I am really getting excited about this. I wonder why the BWV ($3.97 per point) have less of a maintenece fee than the Boardwalk ($4.10 per point) which is an older property? Before adding up my "final figures" I just wanted to confirm that the BWV fees are definetly at this point the $3.97 as well. Thanks once again. :)

[Jordan]

I just thought of a few more questions that my husband is sure to ask. Do your banked points ever expire? If so how long can they be banked for? Is it difficult to use your points to stay at a regular resort (Grand Floridian/Port Orleans Riverside) if you book closer to your arrival date? (Say 2-3 months out) If you are staying at a vacation club property but don't have enough points to make up your stay (for ex. you have 200 points but the room you want is 300 points) can you pay the difference on your credit card to the resort, or can you only use points? How do they figure out the price difference if you can do this? Thanks for bearing with me!

[Slowhand]

Hi Jordan,
Your DVC points can only be banked for use during the next use year. Remember also that you can "borrow" points from your next use year if you need to.
Subject to room availability, you could in theory make a reservation at the last minute at anywhere in WDW.
By banking and borrowing our points for last years vacation, we were able to do a 7 day cruise on the Disney Magic, followed by 4 days at Vero Beach and then 8 days at the Grand Floridian. We were just a few points short, but in the end, we only had to pay for one night at the GF...the rest were all thanks to the DVC points.
Go for it!

[jersey girl]

:ears:
hi
we bought broadwalk thru resale. we saved money but you do need to pay settlement costs. about $400.00 for 150 pts. pretty easy but not as quick as going thru dvc. ANN. FEES-cost per yr per pt so- at 3.98 pt x 150 pts = approx $600.00 yr

just returned from wdw -- we stayed in a studio and loved it! of course, we didn't cook but the fridge-freezer is great and the room is larger than any wdw resort room we ever stayed in:
poly, riverside, swan, dolphin, french quarter

QUEEN BED, SOFA, TABLE & 2 CHAIRS AND EFF KITCH (MICRO, FRIDGE, COFFEEPOT, TOASTER AND PAPER PLATES.

[Jordan]

You guys are the best! Thank you for all of the valuable information, I really appriciate it! :)