Anyone a member of Disney vacation Club? Or own a timeshare? My parents asked me to look into Disney Vacation Club and I have no idea where to start. I have heard great things about it, but I also don't want them to waste their money if it's not worth it. Just curious if anyone has any experience with it. I'm also curious about timeshares in general!
-
I don't know anyone who does not regret buying their timeshare.
-
@ElbieKay: it's definitely a mixed bag for people I know. I have a coworker who loves her time share. However, her kids are already grown and she can travel on a whim (so jealous). But yeah, I myself am kind of wary of timeshares in general.
-
My parents don't love their timeshare. It was good when we were doing annual family vacations as a family of 5 and couldn't fit into a standard hotel room. But, making reservations a year in advance to get a good location is a big pain. Usually they have several unused weeks they are just trying to get rid of before they expire. FYI, they are RCI.
I would consider a disney one though maybe!
-
I'm not a lot of help on the logistics of the Disney Vacation Club (how to sign up, where to start looking...), however, a few people in my family have it and absolutely rave about it! One of my DH's aunt's actually gifted us our honeymoon in Disney World through the vacation club and we loved it. You get a lot of special treatment and rewards for being apart of the club. I think they would all highly recommend it!
-
DH and I looked into it (not much, but got a little info) and from what I remember, we were turned off b/c you never actually own anything. Your membership expires I believe 50 or some odd years from the date you establish your membership. If I am even remembering this correctly, as it has been a few years since we looked into it. We love Disney, and were totally into the idea of a time share sort of thing, but we just didn't like not being able to pass the timeshare along to our kids one day, and you can't with DVC b/c like I said, the membership expires.
-
@T.H.O.U.: yeah, the planning in advance and all the points and stuff is super confusing to me... but I can definitely see how it would benefit people who can get their act together!
@walnutems: ok that's good to know, thanks! I have been reading some blogs about DVC. Pretty much everyone who loves it REALLY loves it.
-
my parents own, as does my aunt, and neither has ever regretted it. I can ask my dad for specific answers if you're curious! feel free to wall me.
it is amazing.
-
basically, from what my dad has told me, you'd have to be already planning to go to disney once a year - or a pricier vaca every other year. it costs a certain amount "per year" when you do the math, but for example, my parents can stay at Wilderness Lodge in a 1-bedroom for the same cost it would be out of pocket to stay in a discounted moderate resort (coronado springs, caribbean beach) or value resort.
-
I've heard great things about DVC-- I used to work as a concierge for one of the Disney properties and we had Owners come stay with us all the time. Everyone of them raved about it.
I own Worldmark and am pretty pleased with it (it's based on a credit system, so I don't have a "home" resort/property). I know of another family who owns a Marriott timeshare, and they love it, too (their home resort is Phuket, Thailand... must be nice!).
-
Ok..so my husband and I are DVC members and we love it. I live on Oahu so we always stay at the Aulani. We are bringing our baby for the first time though in November to stay. We plan on using it when we go to Disneyland next year. And we have stayed at non Disney hotels using our points.we have gifted a nights stay and my best friend is a DVC member so we go at the same time. My other friend with two boys has it and loves it.we plan a Walt Disney world vacation soon.the only thing I recommend is to buy the points at a Disney resort that isn't as desirable because the points are cheaper but u can still use them to stay at all the other hotels. There are a lot of other benefits but to many to name. We also have the Disney credit card to compile points towards the parks and Disney stores and stuff and there is no annual fee. I feel like a commercial but I do love having it. Yes it is only 50 years but by the time I'm 80 and my kid are almost 30 they will know if they want to continue it or not. We do have a deed that if we do go before the 50 years are up we can pass it down. Good luck.if u have any questions let me know
-
@sorrycharlie: Ok, thanks! If I have any specific questions I will definitely ask! I have also heard that it's not a great "value" per se.. Unless you are just a Disneyholic and planned to go every year anyway and stay on property. But people also argue that you can't put a price on the "quality of life" aspect of what it might bring. I like how there is a very active buyback and secondhand market as well.
-
@BabyMats: thanks for your insight! Aulani is one of my dream destinations, I have heard amazing things about it! It seems like most people have their home resort at Disney world at Saratoga springs.. But we are more frequently in California so maybe we can look into that too. My parents are thinking that they would buy it and pass it down to us. So generous of them but I am worried that at a certain point we will outgrow it, you know? I'm so glad you are happy with your experience..
-
@HabesBabe: great thanks for telling me about what you have heard about DVC. And I'm glad your timeshare is working well for you.. I hadn't heard of either you mentioned.. one of the most overwhelming things about time shares is the number of different options there are!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite1
13 comments