Explain DVC

[mom2munchkins]

I've been looking at the DVC info online but am very confused. It sees like it would be really neat. I just don't understand how it works. How much do you pay to get started? How do you get the point to stay whereever you stay? It says you get an allotment of points but never says how many that is.I really really like the AKL pictures for the future. It got me thinking we might want to do that but I don't understand how it works. So I figured I'd ask here. I know I'll get answers here:D

[Johnie]

Unless it's changed, you have to buy a minimum of 150 points through Disney. I went on the timeshare tour for Saratoga Springs a couple of years ago and the points were about $96 a piece then.

dcfromva is a WEALTH of information regarding DVC so hopefully she will see this.

[JuniorMickey]

you may want to take a look at this thread (http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30431) some of the points are old but you can get a good idea. DC did an awesome job putting that together

[PaulaK]

AKV's are $101 a point. :)

[mom2munchkins]

Thanks for the info. It sounds like something I'd like to do I just don't know if I can afford it.

[PaulaK]

Do your sums very carefully, think about which size unit you would be comfortable in and how many points you would realistically need. The more points you buy, the higher your dues. We have been more than happy with our purchase and when our kids get bigger it will ease the cost of needing 2 rooms at a deluxe. It's certainly not for everyone though. Our financial advisor also did the figures for my parents who go once every 12/18 months and stay in a moderate, it wasn't worth it for them. :)

[mom2munchkins]

So let's see if i got this. You buy into DVC at a certain price, you pay so much per point and then dues too? If you picked let's say a 1bedroom(which is what I'm looking at) do you always have to stay in a 1bedroom?

[PaulaK]

You don't buy a specific unit, just points at a specific resort. This becomes your 'home resort' and you can book any accommodation at that resort using your points 11 months out. At 7 months out, you can book at the other DVC resorts, any room, whatever your points allow. You can also borrow points from the following year if you don' have enough. If you cannot go one year, you can 'bank' your points and use them the following year. :wacko:

We bought a resale at BWV. Take a look at The Timeshare Store (http://www.dvc-resales.com/), it will give you ideas what resales are going for. :thumbs:

[mom2munchkins]

Ok I did look at that site. The price at the end of the row what is that if it's not for a place? Does that include points too?

[PaulaK]

That is for points at that resort. You are not buying a specific unit i.e. a studio, 1 bed, 2 bed, you are buying a stake in that whole property. That way, you are not tied to a certain accommodation. If you want a quick getaway in a studio one year, you can use less points, but if you decided you want to take the whole family, you can get a grand villa. The points charts tell you how many you need per night to stay at each property. You add up the points for your stay and they get knocked off your total for that year. Does that make sense? :unsure:

[mom2munchkins]

Yeah I think so. Thanks:D

[dcfromva]

I've been looking at the DVC info online but am very confused. It sees like it would be really neat. I just don't understand how it works. How much do you pay to get started? How do you get the point to stay whereever you stay? It says you get an allotment of points but never says how many that is.I really really like the AKL pictures for the future. It got me thinking we might want to do that but I don't understand how it works. So I figured I'd ask here. I know I'll get answers here:D

mom2munchkins,
Disney just started selling AKL, so they probably won't have resales on the secondary market for a little bit. If you go through Disney, as Johnie pointed out it is a minimum 150 points. You may be able to get an $8.00 per point discount--(this is an incentive they are currently offering DVC owners who do an add on. ) They are also doing a special incentive where you can become a Founding Member and have your name added to this Village Tapestry (I think it requires a 150 point add on for existing members). You have to pay closing costs now for sales through Disney. Your maint fees--I think they are starting off somewhere around $4.50 per point (I haven't seen anything official on this). The maint fees are an annual expense and the generally go up each year. ( Call your Vacation Club Guide now for more information at (800)-382-3096 )

If you go the resale route, you could purchase fewer points and for a lower price. The Timeshare Store is one of the board sponsors. If you had a particular resort and a target number of points and use year--you could let them know and I believe they would keep an eye out for what you are looking for. The lowest number of points that is possible is 25 points. My impression is that these contracts sell very quickly.

What could you do with 25 points? You could bank/borrow them and then have 75 points to use every 3 years. You would also get all the perks associated with DVC (discounts off annual passes, for example). You could then add on directly through Disney, if you wanted (any number of points you desired as long as it was more than 25 points). 75 points would be enough for a value studio (AKL) for a week during adventure and choice seasons. 75 points would be enough for a 5 night sunday thru Thurs stay at the AKL Concierge adventure,choice and dream seasons (though-I'm not sure how easy it will be to snag an AKL concierge ressie at the 7 month point. :blush: )
Another example, 75 points would be enough to stay at any of the DVC WDW studios for a Sun-thurs stay for adventure, choice, dream and magic seasons.

-DC

[mom2munchkins]

Thanks. I think I'm getting it:D