FAQs about the Disney Vacation Club About This Page:

[PURPLEPRINCESS]

I do not want to rent points, but I was wondering if there was a way you could stay in a dvc unit? Either pay through disney travel or through a TA. I was wondering if it is available if you could pay for it like any other hotel suite at disney?



Dawn

[Wendyismyname]

Originally Posted by PURPLEPRINCESS

I do not want to rent points, but I was wondering if there was a way you could stay in a dvc unit? Either pay through disney travel or through a TA. I was wondering if it is available if you could pay for it like any other hotel suite at disney?



Dawn

Yes, just plug in your dates, select your DVC resort and if it is available, you can book it like a regular room!

[TorontoGirl]

Do you know if it possible for non-US residents to make these purchases? And if there are additional fees beyond the exchange of Cdn to US $?

Thanks!

[Wendyismyname]

Originally Posted by TorontoGirl

Do you know if it possible for non-US residents to make these purchases? And if there are additional fees beyond the exchange of Cdn to US $?

Thanks!

Sure, we have several non-US residents who are DVC members!! Just go to this website for DVC and find out all about it, request a DVD and more info. You can always tell them that I referred you!!

[tjkraz]

Unfortunately DVC isn't licensed to sell remotely to residents of most Canadian provinces. Last I heard there was only one province that was OK and I'm almost positive it is not Toronto.

Buying resale is still an option. It's a bit different process and takes longer to complete, but you get the same ownership benefits. Buying direct from DVC is like buying a home from a builder--it's a pretty streamlined process and there usually isn't a lot of haggling involved. Buying resale is like buying a home from the current resident. You need to negotiate terms, wait for both parties to submit paperwork, etc.

DVC also has a Right of First Refusal on all resale transactions. So if you negotiate a deal they think is TOO attractive, DVC will swoop in and buy it at your terms. You don't lose any money but you do have to start all over again looking for a new contract.

You probably won't find any resale contracts for the Contemporary Bay Lake Tower yet since it is so new, but all of the others should be available. Click on the banner at the top for DVC by Resale. They are one of several reputable brokers of DVC resale contracts.

If you do want to buy direct from DVC, you would have to do it while physically present in one of their sales centers. That includes Walt Disney World, Disneyland and they have one just outside of Chicago.

[graysbeach]

Originally Posted by chezp

This thread is designed to help answer some of the frequently asked questions about the Disney Vacation Club - hopefully it'll be of use to you.
Saratoga Springs points will be good until 2054 and Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas points are good until 2057. At all other DVC resorts, your ownership interest expires in 2042.

This is part of the reason why you’ll find other DVC resorts, available through re-sale, are usually available at a cheaper price. However, bear in mind that if you go through re-sale, you’ll also have to pay your closing costs on the deal, whereas if you purchase directly through DVC, then you won’t have any closing costs to pay.

Whichever method of purchasing you choose, the resort where you purchase your ownership interest will become your “home resort” – this is a useful term to know, as it makes a difference when it comes to actually making your reservation!

How many points will I need?

The number of points you will use to book your vacation depend principally on three things:

1) Whether you’re booking a DVC resort or a non-DVC Disney resort.

See the earlier examples for the difference between paying for DVC resorts and other Disney resorts.

2) What days of the week you’re planning to stay.

Friday and Saturday nights are always more expensive than Sunday through to Thursday night stays at DVC resorts. A weekly price is offered for all DVC resorts.

3) What time of the year you want to travel.

Generally, the busier the time of the year, the more points your vacation will cost. For DVC resorts, there are five seasons of the year:

– Adventure is the cheapest and generally covers January, September and the first two weeks of December.

– Choice is the second cheapest and generally covers October, most of November (except Thanksgiving weekend) and the third week of December.

– Dream is the next season and generally covers the first two weeks in February, all of May and early June, along with the last two weeks in August.

– Magic is the second most expensive season and covers the final two weeks in February, March and April (excluding the two weeks around Easter), mid June to mid August and Thanksgiving weekend.

– Premier is the most expensive season and covers the two weeks around Easter and from Christmas Eve through until New Year’s Eve.

If you’re not sure how many points you’d use each year, then you can post your question in this forum with details of your usual vacations and we should be able to tell you how many points you’d need.
If you’ve got any other questions, then please post away in this forum – it’s the place to chat about all aspects of Owning the Magic : The Disney Vacation Club!

[b]By Cheryl (chezp), Sue (rescusk) and Dianne - your co-guides of Owning the Magic : The Disney Vacation Club forum

I've been curious about DVC for a while now but always avoided the sales cart in fear of it being high pressure. A time share is something I've never done before and I think I understand the basics- a "buy in" cost per amount of points and then annual dues for x amount of $ per point is that correct ? The points are flat right and not per person? I might talk over with DH because as it is now we go at least every 2 years and spend over 4500- 5500 each time - this would pay for it's self in a few vacations and then save money after that.
We prefer anytime in or end of October / all November or the first 2 weeks of December and usually stay 7 nights

[Meeko]

Originally Posted by graysbeach

I've been curious about DVC for a while now but always avoided the sales cart in fear of it being high pressure. A time share is something I've never done before and I think I understand the basics- a "buy in" cost per amount of points and then annual dues for x amount of $ per point is that correct ? The points are flat right and not per person? I might talk over with DH because as it is now we go at least every 2 years and spend over 4500- 5500 each time - this would pay for it's self in a few vacations and then save money after that.
We prefer anytime in or end of October / all November or the first 2 weeks of December and usually stay 7 nights

Yup, you've got it! You buy a set number of points - for example, I bought 160 points at Bay Lake Tower. I can use them however I want. For example, a studio that sleeps four with a Magic Kingdom view uses 146 points for one week in October. It doesn't matter if there's one person, two people, or four sleeping there. If you only go every other year, and there are six of you, you might want to do a two-bedroom which sleeps up to nine). A two-bedroom with a Lake View is 313 points for a week in October - you could use two years of points (if you had 160) to do that. It's very flexible.

I'd suggest ordering the free DVD online and checking it out. The minimum point buy in for Bay Lake has changed, and they can give you info on Animal Kingdom Lodge. They're very low-pressure on sales. If you plan to keep going like you do now, you will definitely save money in the long run, and may find you can go more often because of the affordability. When we were paying cash, every 1-2 years was our limit. With the flexibility of points, I'm actually planning three trips within one year!

Good luck!

[spiceypj]

Originally Posted by graysbeach

We prefer anytime in or end of October / all November or the first 2 weeks of December and usually stay 7 nights

since you are thinking of Oct/Nov - assuming you like the food/wine festavial?

then suggest BWV or BCV - for the food/wine.

now if you like MNNSHP or MVMCP better then VWL or the new BLT.

the new BLT cost more points than the other choices. Standard view at BWV is a bargin.

now how many points has a lot to do with weekend.

BWV standard view studio (I like the cheaper option) would be for Jan, Sept, Dec 1-14, Oct, Nov 1-23 & 27-30, Dec 15-23 (this is 2010) - is 10 points a night

1-bedroom is 19, 2-bedroom is 28 points a night - Jan, Sept. dec-144

the weekend is much more expensive - Jan, Sept, dec1-14 - fri/sat are 16 points a night
Oct, Nov 1-23 & 27-30, Dec 15-23 (this is 2010) is 17 points a night.

for a 1-bedroom is 33. 2-bedroom is 42

for a 1-bedroom is 34, 2=bedroom is 47

the BCV is more expensive - it and VWL are the same, BLT standard view is the same as them.

so if you do 2 weeks together - arriving on a Sunday and leaving the 2nd Friday - you would need anywhere from 132 points (studio standard bwv) to 374 points (2-bedroom)

so if you want BWV or BCV then go resales.

if you want AKV then DVC is almost as good as resales.

the least expensive point wise and cost is OKW. especially if you go resale.

[graysbeach]

Thank you both. You have given me what I need to talk this over with DH with out putting a scare in to him ! We prefer those times of year for weather and b/c we celebrate our anniversary Nov 2. I'm not particular about views so it looks like I have a few good options.

[Disneymoon0909]

Now it's my turn to be confused...I am curious how financing works. I would love to be able to buy in now but I am getting married in September and my fiance and I are hoping to buy a house soon after we get back form our Disneymoon so the probability of being able to drop 16k in one fell swoop is non existent. How does the finiancing work? Can anyone help? Thanks!

[spiceypj]

don't know the new interest rate by the old one (and hoping current) is 10.75% you can do it for 10 years. You need to put 10% down.

that is with DVC only.

with resalers you have to find your own money - and since you don't even know a home - would do that FIRST.

[Buffalogirl18]

Has anyone purchased recently? How "easy" is it to get financed through Disney? (does your credit have to be "perfect"?) Do you have to own your own home? Is it still 10% down? What is the current rate per point? How long does the process take from start to finish? When were your points first availalbe for use? Is it difficult to book for the dates/locations that you want? We are headed down for vacation April 27th and I'd like to check this out when we go, but I'd like to have as much info as possible ahead of time. Thanks

[cindybelle]

My DBF once again thinks I'm nuts, but I'm wanting to know more about DVC. I've read everything in this thread, ordered the DVD yesterday, and looked at the chart showing how you end up in a financially better position eventually. Here are my questions.

1. I'm single and while I generally don't have trouble finding somebody to go with me to WDW, I'll probably be doing a lot of solo trips in the next couple of years. Assuming I decide to buy, would I be better off purchasing a studio and then purchasing more points if I end up wanting a 2-bedroom for DBF and another couple to share in a future year? How easy/hard is that to do?

2. I almost always stay in a moderate resort (CSR is a fave, and I stayed at Dixie Landings--now POR--a couple times in the 1980s and liked it). I'll be trying my first "value" resort for May's DoD celebration but assume I'll always veer toward moderates. However, I adored spending 2 nights at AKL in 2005 and am really curious about the AKVillas. BUT the longest I've ever stayed is one week, and I doubt I'll ever stay longer than that. So while I expect to visit WDW every year until I can't get my brittle bones onto a plane anymore (I'm turning 54 in a few days and fully expect to stay healthy until I'm 100, but you never know), I'm most likely going to be visiting WDW 1-2 times a year for 3-4 days at a shot. Will the DVC save me money over the long haul, or not?

3. As a DVC owner, am I allowed to give points to someone else for their own trip? Does Disney frown on this or just outright demand that I be part of the group anytime someone uses my points?

Thanks.

[cindybelle]

Originally Posted by DVC Mike

Yes, you can have more than one home resort, and you get the 11-month booking advantage at each of them, using the points you own at each of them.

Does that mean you pay the maintenance fees for all 5 of your home resorts? Or what's the financial impact of having 5 "home resorts"? Thanks.

[omd]

Originally Posted by Wendyismyname

Great job! This will make things so much simpler for those who have questions!!!

Thanks for bringing more action to this forum!!!!

Wendy

This is great!