The Real Value of DVC
About two years ago, I had a brief whim to sell one of our DVC contracts. The resale prices were so high that I was tempted to sell. The idea began when I heard someone lamenting that their non-DVC timeshare was essentially worthless because there was no resale value. They were no longer able to use their timeshare, but they were forced to pay their yearly dues because nobody wanted to buy it.
I started wondering what price I could get for my DVC contracts. Yes, my husband and I have two contracts. Like many other DVC owners, after our first purchase, we wanted more points and another home resort. We initially purchased points at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in 2010, and within a year we had purchased additional points at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I thought about the profit I could make selling just one contract. Perhaps I would sell the one that had more than doubled in value.
The thought didn’t last long. I started contemplating the reasons why we first bought into DVC. A relative had taken my husband and I and our two small children on vacation to Disney World, and we stayed at Saratoga Springs. My husband and I were already huge fans of Disney World, but we had never stayed at a DVC resort. We fell in love with Saratoga Springs! The quiet beauty of the resort that makes you feel like you are getting away from everything when you return from the parks. The ability to walk to Disney Springs or take a boat ride. The love my children have for the pool areas. On our next trip, we rented points and stayed at Saratoga Springs again. After that, we decided we would make Saratoga Springs our home resort before our next trip.
Since we live in the Northeast, we typically visit Disney World once a year. There was one year where we were lucky enough to visit three times. My family never tires of Disney World and we have stayed in nearly every DVC resort. In fact, this is the first year since purchasing DVC that we rented out our points in order to visit family instead of traveling to Disney World or taking a Disney cruise. We are all having some withdrawal symptoms.
Our experiences have made me realize the real value of DVC. It isn’t the amount for which I can sell my points (although that certainly is a benefit!). The value of DVC is the joy it brings my family. The trips we take and the memories we make. I’m not ready to give that up yet and neither is my family. I am comfortable knowing that I can sell if needed, but for now I plan to stay a part of the Disney family.
We love Disney World. We live 8 miles from Disneyland but go to Disney World and take a cruise every year, we have points in 4 Properties. Animal Kingdom is our favorite and the Boardwalk. We didn’t go this year, really missing it, but we sold the points and made s lot of money. Next year we will go back and especially 2021 for the 50th Anniversary
The benefit of staying at a DVC resort with its at home conveniences of a larger square footed plan than a traditional hotel room with dishwasher, big sunken tub, fully functional kitchen, washer and dryer (except in the deluxe studios you have a small fridge, toaster, coffee maker, and no big tub), certainly make it a HUG advantage. The calming sensation of sitting out on the patios / balconies are also not something you get at a regular hotel which makes this also wonderful.
We have two contracts and did wish that we split up the points with each resort. We first did 250 points at Animal Kingdom Kidani and 100 points at Bay Lake Tower. We wipe out our 100 points every July 4th stay and wished we had more points. The points have become a bit outrageous lately making it now too much to purchase for us. We consider ourselves very lucky to have two contracts and we now have to just pay the maintenance fees on the two for the rest of the contacts which is well worth it. We now live in the Orlando vicinity and do stay-cations to enjoy the Disney bubble of magic. We always stay for our anniversary, one or both of our birthdays, July 4th week, a stay to enjoy MNSSHP, Christmas and New Years. It usually is a total stay in a deluxe studio since it is only the two of us for a total of 21 to 29 days over a given year. Certainly to us, well worth the value!
John and I are members since February, 1998. We first bought into Old Key West. Next came Vero Beach. Then we bought Hilton Head. All three in pretty much quick succession. We have five hundred and twenty five points. We have certainly enjoyed the DVC over the years with our sons and their families. Also, many times we have invited friends to join us. We are, at this very time, enjoying a stay at OKW. We relax here. We take a one bedroom and my husband just loves it here. We are from Long Island. This is one of the best presents we have ever bought for ourselves. Disney is a first class operation.
What I notice is that none of you ever mentioned what you pay in yearly maintenance fees. How much are you paying if you have an interest in the Boardwalk, Grand Floridian or any other DVC. Let’s say you have a 100 point contract.
You can check out the dues for each resort for 2019 here: https://www.dvcstore.com/dvc-listings.cfm
So in 2019, if you owned 100 points at Bay Lake that would mean your dues would be $640, or Boardwalk for 100 points would be $717 for the year. Hope that helps!
The fee is per point and is between $5.80 to $8.00. Each resort has a different fee. I have Saratoga Springs land they have the lowest fees. I bought on the used market for $81 per point and saved $$. I then purchased 25 points from Disney so I get the blue card benefits as if I purchased all my points from Disney. That has changed because it was a great way to buy and save. Our initial purchase of 210 points will be made up in savings for a higher end resort in 3-4 years. Our studio at SSR is 12 points a night. 12 times the fee of $5.80 is what we pay plus tax, per night. That is way less than the rack or discount rate, thus the savings. I should have bought years ago!