We were gifted our first trip to Disneyworld when we were 62! Now we go annually. Now at 68 we're buying our first DVC contract as soon as the "great unpleasantness" allows us to travel. Proving that it's never too late to save money. Praying for borders to open soon.
I’m buying late too but going to put my son on as an owner too. I’ve been going to Disneyland since the first week it opened. Hope to get the new Disneyland Tower but want to buy in Orlando too.
I recently had 60 points expiring and gifted 3 1&2 night stays to 3 families that were going through a hard time one being a furloughed cast member. The points couldn’t be used due to me living in the uk. It felt good for the soul 💗
The washer and dryer is the key to traveling light-especially with little ones, I can pack 3 outfits for each child and not 12-my kids can’t ever keep their clothes clean🤣
Thanks Jen. Everyone laughs when I tell the story. Yes, I totally bought over the phone. You're inspiring me to do a video about our buying experience and how the math to buy DVC made more sense financially than renting points or staying at a Disney hotel.
Yeah, about those other videos. Some of us actually have watched them all. I'm pretty comfortable saying I don't think any of us mind a bit of recap though.
LOL Thanks, Chris!! I do tend to cover the same ground but there are always new people and lucky for me, DVC is always changing EVER SO SLIGHTLY so the content keeps coming! 😂❤️❤️❤️
It is 100% worth it for couples without kids! My husband and I get to go 2-4 times a year. We would have never been able to do this before. We love Disney so it was an investment we were happy to make ☺️
Same here! Plus: I'm more Disney than my husband, so a studio on a solo trip (love a real coffee machine and a microwave please) is a great way I get to travel more! Jenn is right: you gotta do the math and it made we realise we should've bought years before we did 🤦
I also think family size is a huge factor. We ended up buying at SSR because we're a family of 6 and our youngest is only 2. And then if my parents go with us, we're a party of 8. And I'm not about to get 3-4 rooms at Pop Century every other year. 😂😂 Two bedroom villas are the sweet spot for us, for sure. (I also love the washer and dryer, you are not alone in that 🤣)
I'm on the hunt for my first DVC contract (resale) and can't wait to find the right one! Your channel has been so helpful in my research. Thank you, Jen!
Your DVC videos are so incredibly informative!!! I have learned so much from you! I'm going to have to whip out Excel and start running some numbers to see if it would be worth it for our family. Thank you for taking the time to put these videos together for us!!
I love your answer about the break even point. It's important to be reminded that people deserve to be paid for their labor. Once the contract cost equals what you would've spent on an hotel, we shouldn't be greedy and look for a "free" vacation. There's still workers there every day.
Good for people to keep in mind when considering memberships is, there's so much to do and see at Disney/Epcot, etc., It takes years to come even close to experiencing everything. If not a member, that adds up. This I know for sure having lived near Disney World etc. for six years. Even I didn't get it all in. Memberships pay off in the long run. Great information, Jen.
I'm not in the market for DVC but I love listening to your videos because they don't just focus on the financial pro and cons but on the personal side of owning (planner vs. last minute traveler, etc.) I really appreciate these nuanced conversations.
I agree with you, Jen. I have been a vacation club member since 2009 and it is totally worth it! I am retiring in May of this year and am so grateful that I will be able to take my family to Disney World in September for a much-needed vacation. I, like you, can say that all of my future vacations are paid for.
I was one of the members who lost their noodle during "studio gate" a few years ago. Glad they listened to us. Not glad it took the threat of legal action. Still very happy we joined!
What a helpful video. You answered questions I didn't even know I had. I have watched ALL of your DVC videos, at least once, but recaps and cliff note versions are always appreciated :-) Shopping for resale contracts has become a great diversion for me and almost "hobby like". lol Keep up the good work!
I’ve watched many of your DVC videos and they were super helpful when we decided to buy DVC, and even still I’m sitting here and watching. I agree with everything. Like yes the laundry was a big reason for buying into dvc (packing half as much and doing laundry in the comfort of our room makings flying so much easier!) And yes, so much of the decisions depend. But it’s the same as if someone said “is buying a house worth it?” Depends... Great video as always!
Spot on with your answers.👍🏻 We are a DVC Member for over 20 years with never having no children. We bought because we was tried of paying for a deluxe room rate and having to wait on a washer and dryer. 😏😅 Again we have been very satisfied with our DVC and even thought of even buying a resale contract for more points.🤔😏 Thanks for sharing your thoughts on DVC.😍
I’m hoping the DVC tower at the Disneyland Hotel comes to fruition. We go to Disneyland yearly, and there really isn’t a good timeshare product in the Disneyland vicinity.
Excellent and informative as always! THANK YOU for providing a definitive fact-based answer regarding access to the Top of the World lounge vs. access to the EPCOT lounge. There is a lot of conflicting info out there about that, and the part about if dues paid for it or not makes so much sense. I wish Disney would not be so vague about it. I mean, I don't think that's going to be the deciding factor for anyone deciding to purchase direct instead of resale, but all membership perks should be clear (until, as you say...they change and/or go away).
This is a very good video Jen! Thanks for sharing with us. I intend on going to WDW every other year, for the foreseeable future, but since I travel as a party 1 or a party of 2 a single hotel room is always plenty of space for me. I like learning about DVC though.
My husband and I are in the process of closing on an additional 50 points shortly via resale We love DVC- we are just a couple so the studios are perfect for us. The fact we stayed at the Grand Floridian or Poly for the same price as Coronado is what sold us. It’s so great to be able to stay at the nice hotels for a fraction of the cost.
Wait!? Kids grow up in a few years!? That is BRAND NEW INFORMATION! haha I still enjoy watching your DVC videos even though I'm pretty sure it's not for us, but I'm keeping an open mind. Thanks Jen.
I always get confused with the fact that we have 3 contracts, 2 with copper creek and one with poly use year sept total points 200. 11 mths you can book at your home resort. Can’t use all the points at poly or copper creek. 50 at poly and 150 at copper creek.
We're going end of January! Booked OKW for the last 4 days of our trip, but *hoping* to book Bay Lake at 7 months. If not it'll be our first stay at OKW and I'm not mad about it!
We studios for now..... We are locals and APs and stayed a couple of times are moderates for the most part before getting DVC. We compared a AoA or Coronado regular discounted rooms vs DVC, not Bay Lake vs The Contemporary and the math was worth it. While there are room promos that make me think twice and that perhaps it was a mistake getting DVC, we are basically getting deluxe for moderate prices. $100 per night night at All Stars (never stayed) and $150 at Coronado was quickly becoming $150 and $200. We are getting Poly and VGF for about $250-$300 and $200 for AKL, BCV, BWV OKW. While dues will go up, we all know that All Stars will soon regularly be $300. We also paid cash and direct, but wished we knew about resale. It will be resale for any major purchase. The point reallocation in October and early November (our bdays and anniversary) isn't helping matters, but we are still coming out ahead. We almost locked in current prices for decades.
We bought direct, OKW (for the contract time, room size for the studio and price per point for our budget). We initially didn’t buy enough direct for the blue card, but added on once we had the funds....however...we’ve not stayed there yet....our welcome home trip was the Poly and we are staying at the poly again this summer. My goal is to get a poly resale contract one day 😂😬
I know it's been a long time, but I would love to hear your thoughts about off property and why it wasn't for you! We are staying on property next trip but considering the off property route for 22 or 23.
First time watching your channel. I love you!!! Very informative and you are so enthusiastic. In the UK and thinking of buying DVC going to watch all your vlogs
Jen if you let your AP expire during Covid you can get it reinstated. Call guest services and they can put in your request. You won't get a renewal discount but your pass won't start until your first use date.
5:10 here's my nutshell version after crunching numbers. Worth it for a couple if you're deluxe travellers going annually, or you're moderates who want to bank/borrow points and go every second year or so. If the pair of you are content at Caribbean Beach or Pop Century for a week every year, savings aren't there. (ETA: I'm in Canada, so I have to factor very expensive flights into my numbers as well... that makes a big difference versus being able to drive a couple hours :))
Hi Carrie. Fellow Canuck here. Our saving grace is we live near the border - drive over and fly cheaply out of U.S. They also have much better service then our airlines. Sad but true.
@@marybiggs6233 we're a bit too far from the border for that, but we do always fly Delta! It's cheaper that AC/WJ and like you said, much better service!
We originally bought 75 points at Copper Creek... Withing 8 months, we realized that was not enough for what we do. We ended up adding another 50 for the same UY. I only wish we looked closer at our options closer. That said, we want more points. That said, we are a couple without kids...
Right now DVC doesn’t make sense for us. I LOVE that you are honest that it isn’t for everyone. As my boys get older (and bigger!) and my mom retires soon I can see DVC being something to look into.
I think it’s helpful that I don’t have a dog in the fight - I don’t make commission, nobody is paying me to say anything. So you get my totally honest opinion! And yes, my parents getting older definitely pushed us into the “makes sense” column and we’ve enjoyed many trips with my mom!!
I purchased my first contract resale because I wanted Grand Californian. Zero regrets. The "perks" that I lost are minimally valuable since I don't go to Florida, and the shopping discounts I get via the Disney Visa. Do to the limited number of rooms at Grand Californian, my points are worth more than I paid for them even many years later, and I can rent them at a significant premium because it is such a limited resort. The question to buy direct or resale is an extreme "it depends". There is no one answer, it really depends on how much you want to spend, what home resort you're looking at, if you want a 50yr vs 20yr contract, and so much more. However, in nearly every case I would say this shouldn't be a rushed decision/purchase. Don't get swept up in the "instant gratification" of purchasing direct and lose sight of the pros/cons of each. Even if you decide to purchase direct, if you want a specific resort and number of points, you may still have to wait for them to come available.
When you told the story of zoelle, I thought of my parents neighbors. They didn’t buy dvc ( they don’t even know what that is), but I thought of a family trip they went on in 2015 or 2016. It was their 50th wedding anniversary and they treated the family to 15 days in Disney. Them, their 4 children + the spouses, grandchildren as well as a favorite niece with her husband and children...I think it was about 26 people in total. They paid around 75 THOUSAND euros for the whole package. Man, I wish they could have adopted me for the month. It would have come out better getting dvc
Our story is very similar to Zoelle’s. I’ll share it with you sometime. I’ve watched Karen’s vids and they’re really helpful too. Given that she helped with the numbers, can you sing in a Disney Princess voice in the next vid as per your comment at 30:30 in this?! 😂😂 Off to look at Patreon now...
Jen, I also let my annual pass expire since I wasn’t sure how long we would be in the “great unpleasantness”. I guess that was a big mistake now that they aren’t letting anyone buy a pass and there are no answers as to when that might change. I’m assuming obviously that you’ll have to buy park tickets for your upcoming trip and I wonder if Disney doesn’t bring back the option to buy passes again in the next year or two would you then reconsider keeping your dvc membership?
Hi again. Question: with 1 contract through WDW and 1 resale, Do you book 2 separate back to back reservations? Or do they have your name linked to all your different points and just make 1 reservation. Thanks. You are Awesome ☺️
I really enjoy your videos and your DVC videos are full of simple to understand info, but I do have 2 questions. In the example you used of a trip in Aug that needs to be rescheduled (use year is Sept) are the points not able to be banked at the time of cancellation? Conversely, if you're booking before use year points are valid and with zero points currently in your "bucket" can you still book - said differently, do you have to have points to book, or just have to have the available points effective the day of arrival? Thanks!
You are so good at explaining the maze that is DVC! :-) You just made me actually wanna buy DVC.... if it weren't for the Great Unpleasantness, I would be picking up my calculator and try to do some math(hate math...KAREEEEEEENNNN HELP! haha :-)) Meanwhile: yes please, can you sing me a calming Disney song ? :-)
Hello Jen, just subscribed. My wife and I are recent retirees and looking into DVC for ourselves and to pass on to our grown children. If we wanted to travel in October and the first week of February when should our use year be. Thanks for the excellent information that you provide on your channel.
Funny thing- our anniversary is October and we usually go to WL the first week in February and are considering Oct. too. I noticed the point chart this year shows that going one week earlier is a lower point category. (1-2 months before is good use year, so Aug or Sept we feel will cover either possibility in case of cancellation).
SO, regarding "home resorts": Are you allowed to CHANGE your home resort? Or, do you have to sell your entire contract and start over? ALSO - are any DVC properties "sold out" (as in, not allowing any additional sales as a "home resort?")
Yes, several properties are technically sold out but members still sell their original contracts so that doesn't mean you can't buy them. And no you cannot change your home resort so you'd have to sell and re-purchase if you decided you wanted a different home resort. Great questions!
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH @@JenLefforge! You are CALLED to do what you do. I absolutely LOVE your spirit and we've learned a LOT from you. We are deeply grateful! My in-laws bought into DVC in the early years. Because the Boardwalk was brand-spankin' new (at the time), we encouraged them to buy in with the Boardwalk as their home resort... At the time, "pool hopping" was a perk/privilege of DVC and we loved visiting all of the various resort pools. Now (if I'm not mistaken), pool-hopping between DVC resorts is no longer allowed. Is that accurate?
@@jogray7994 It's suspended at the moment due to covid but it's still allowed! Just not to Stormalong Bay, the Bay Lake Tower Pool and the big pool at Jambo House!
I’ve noticed that 1 bedrooms tend to also be 1 bed and a pull out as well. With the exception that the pull out couch is in another room. Are there any besides Riviera that aren’t?
The one bedroom units all have a "master bedroom" with a king size bed and then the family room will have a pull out (or pull down as in Riviera). The two bedrooms have a bed and a pull out in the second bedroom with the exception of OKW which always has two beds in the second bedroom. Hope that helps!
My question is this.. if you can buy discounted DVC points and stay on property by doing so, why would you commit to a DVC contract at what seems like a much higher price and commitment?
My answer to that is quite simple: rental prices will continue to rise and also there is no guarantee of availability. With my own contract, although not guaranteed, I can typically get exactly what I want (at the 11 month mark) and I am in the driver's seat - I can change, modify or cancel. I don't like renting points for the simple fact that it's very difficult to change or modify a reservation and there's never a guarantee that what you want for your trip will line up exactly with the owners that are renting their points.
Enjoyed the video, but do not understand the logic that Studio people should not buy DVC, especially when mentioning the prices of rooms at Disney keep going up. For the price we bought our resale contract, a week at our home resort (BWV) is not that much more than a week in a preferred at Pop Century (and definitely less than any Moderate) even after usual discounts, but maybe I'm missing something.
(If you answered this previously, My apologies & Can you send me the video link or answer below) I know one can pay off their points balance with a Disney gift card, but do you know if yearly maintenance fees can also be paid, either in whole or in part, with Disney gift cards?
Dream....BWV, September or August use year. Yes, please. Hold up, I missed the most important video ever....convincing the spouse....! Never happen...🤣🤣
Ok, my questions are specific and not answered: 1. Do you have to buy a 125 point single contract to get the blue card or can you do like 75 on one and a 50 point add on? 2. Can you buy resale and then get a direct add on?
@@lmperez1665 I know it is 125 and I think someone said it has to be all at the same resort but I just wanted to make sure. Since we don’t need season passes now (and couldn’t get them anyway) it doesn’t matter but in the future we will probably use the benefits.
Inflation on hotel prices? Let’s talk inflation on everything. I was cleaning the other day and found my photo album from my 1999 trip to WDW. 4 days of tickets with no hopping = $175. Parking was $5 a day. Compare to today. I feel like Bernie Sanders saying this but, no ones wages have gone up quite like Disney’s prices
We were gifted our first trip to Disneyworld when we were 62! Now we go annually. Now at 68 we're buying our first DVC contract as soon as the "great unpleasantness" allows us to travel. Proving that it's never too late to save money. Praying for borders to open soon.
I’m buying late too but going to put my son on as an owner too. I’ve been going to Disneyland since the first week it opened. Hope to get the new Disneyland Tower but want to buy in Orlando too.
I recently had 60 points expiring and gifted 3 1&2 night stays to 3 families that were going through a hard time one being a furloughed cast member. The points couldn’t be used due to me living in the uk. It felt good for the soul 💗
The washer and dryer is the key to traveling light-especially with little ones, I can pack 3 outfits for each child and not 12-my kids can’t ever keep their clothes clean🤣
Thanks Jen. Everyone laughs when I tell the story. Yes, I totally bought over the phone. You're inspiring me to do a video about our buying experience and how the math to buy DVC made more sense financially than renting points or staying at a Disney hotel.
DO IT!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, about those other videos. Some of us actually have watched them all. I'm pretty comfortable saying I don't think any of us mind a bit of recap though.
LOL Thanks, Chris!! I do tend to cover the same ground but there are always new people and lucky for me, DVC is always changing EVER SO SLIGHTLY so the content keeps coming! 😂❤️❤️❤️
It is 100% worth it for couples without kids! My husband and I get to go 2-4 times a year. We would have never been able to do this before. We love Disney so it was an investment we were happy to make ☺️
Love that, Janira!!!!
Same here! Plus: I'm more Disney than my husband, so a studio on a solo trip (love a real coffee machine and a microwave please) is a great way I get to travel more! Jenn is right: you gotta do the math and it made we realise we should've bought years before we did 🤦
I also think family size is a huge factor. We ended up buying at SSR because we're a family of 6 and our youngest is only 2. And then if my parents go with us, we're a party of 8. And I'm not about to get 3-4 rooms at Pop Century every other year. 😂😂 Two bedroom villas are the sweet spot for us, for sure. (I also love the washer and dryer, you are not alone in that 🤣)
I'm on the hunt for my first DVC contract (resale) and can't wait to find the right one! Your channel has been so helpful in my research. Thank you, Jen!
I knew I was an adult at Disney when the in room washer/dryer was the most exciting part.
It's just so very true . . .
We are a couple and generally stay in a studio as we love having the balcony!
It's a fair point - balconies are very important!
Your DVC videos are so incredibly informative!!! I have learned so much from you! I'm going to have to whip out Excel and start running some numbers to see if it would be worth it for our family. Thank you for taking the time to put these videos together for us!!
I just stayed with a friend’s dvc at Aulani and it was a great experience! 🌺
I love your answer about the break even point. It's important to be reminded that people deserve to be paid for their labor. Once the contract cost equals what you would've spent on an hotel, we shouldn't be greedy and look for a "free" vacation. There's still workers there every day.
Good for people to keep in mind when considering memberships is, there's so much to do and see at Disney/Epcot, etc., It takes years to come even close to experiencing everything. If not a member, that adds up. This I know for sure having lived near Disney World etc. for six years. Even I didn't get it all in. Memberships pay off in the long run. Great information, Jen.
Thank you, Donna! Yup, there are still plenty of things we haven't done!! It's so true!
I'm not in the market for DVC but I love listening to your videos because they don't just focus on the financial pro and cons but on the personal side of owning (planner vs. last minute traveler, etc.) I really appreciate these nuanced conversations.
Thank you so much, Ruth!!
I agree with you, Jen. I have been a vacation club member since 2009 and it is totally worth it! I am retiring in May of this year and am so grateful that I will be able to take my family to Disney World in September for a much-needed vacation. I, like you, can say that all of my future vacations are paid for.
I was one of the members who lost their noodle during "studio gate" a few years ago. Glad they listened to us. Not glad it took the threat of legal action.
Still very happy we joined!
What a helpful video. You answered questions I didn't even know I had. I have watched ALL of your DVC videos, at least once, but recaps and cliff note versions are always appreciated :-) Shopping for resale contracts has become a great diversion for me and almost "hobby like". lol Keep up the good work!
Your channel helped me understand everything so much better and made me feel comfortable when buying our first contract!
I’ve watched many of your DVC videos and they were super helpful when we decided to buy DVC, and even still I’m sitting here and watching. I agree with everything. Like yes the laundry was a big reason for buying into dvc (packing half as much and doing laundry in the comfort of our room makings flying so much easier!) And yes, so much of the decisions depend. But it’s the same as if someone said “is buying a house worth it?” Depends... Great video as always!
Thank you so much, Becca!!!
Spot on with your answers.👍🏻 We are a DVC Member for over 20 years with never having no children. We bought because we was tried of paying for a deluxe room rate and having to wait on a washer and dryer. 😏😅 Again we have been very satisfied with our DVC and even thought of even buying a resale contract for more points.🤔😏 Thanks for sharing your thoughts on DVC.😍
Great video. We are on our way right now for seven days. ❤️😘
Thank you! Love the DVC content. Even as a member I like to watch and make sure I’m up to speed on things!
Hi friend! We have just bought at Riviera!!!!! We have dreamt of being DVC for decades and are so so so excited! Big love to you xxx
Oh my goodness, that's wonderful!! How exciting and WELCOME HOME!!!!! Great to hear from you!
Thank you for answering my question I think you answered it fully for my intent and so many other great ones!
Loved your music choice! Looks lovely
Thank you, Trish!
Thank you Jen! I think I finally understand the importance of the perfect use year! ❤️
Hurray! Tanner, I honestly think it is the hardest thing to explain and understand!
Good Answer! Good Answer! True on Family Feud and this video.Good stuff Jen😀👍🏼
Don’t @ me😂😂😂
I’m hoping the DVC tower at the Disneyland Hotel comes to fruition. We go to Disneyland yearly, and there really isn’t a good timeshare product in the Disneyland vicinity.
Excellent and informative as always! THANK YOU for providing a definitive fact-based answer regarding access to the Top of the World lounge vs. access to the EPCOT lounge. There is a lot of conflicting info out there about that, and the part about if dues paid for it or not makes so much sense. I wish Disney would not be so vague about it. I mean, I don't think that's going to be the deciding factor for anyone deciding to purchase direct instead of resale, but all membership perks should be clear (until, as you say...they change and/or go away).
This is a very good video Jen! Thanks for sharing with us. I intend on going to WDW every other year, for the foreseeable future, but since I travel as a party 1 or a party of 2 a single hotel room is always plenty of space for me. I like learning about DVC though.
I think in your case, that makes more sense, Natalie! Thank you for watching!
Love the info.
My husband and I are in the process of closing on an additional 50 points shortly via resale We love DVC- we are just a couple so the studios are perfect for us. The fact we stayed at the Grand Floridian or Poly for the same price as Coronado is what sold us. It’s so great to be able to stay at the nice hotels for a fraction of the cost.
Yes we could never stay at some of the resorts we’ve stayed at if paying cash! Definitely can be deluxe at a moderate price.
Wait!? Kids grow up in a few years!? That is BRAND NEW INFORMATION! haha I still enjoy watching your DVC videos even though I'm pretty sure it's not for us, but I'm keeping an open mind. Thanks Jen.
I always get confused with the fact that we have 3 contracts, 2 with copper creek and one with poly use year sept total points 200. 11 mths you can book at your home resort. Can’t use all the points at poly or copper creek. 50 at poly and 150 at copper creek.
We're going end of January! Booked OKW for the last 4 days of our trip, but *hoping* to book Bay Lake at 7 months. If not it'll be our first stay at OKW and I'm not mad about it!
Matt you cannot go wrong with OKW!!! But yes I hear BLT is nice too....😂😂😂
We studios for now..... We are locals and APs and stayed a couple of times are moderates for the most part before getting DVC. We compared a AoA or Coronado regular discounted rooms vs DVC, not Bay Lake vs The Contemporary and the math was worth it.
While there are room promos that make me think twice and that perhaps it was a mistake getting DVC, we are basically getting deluxe for moderate prices.
$100 per night night at All Stars (never stayed) and $150 at Coronado was quickly becoming $150 and $200. We are getting Poly and VGF for about $250-$300 and $200 for AKL, BCV, BWV OKW. While dues will go up, we all know that All Stars will soon regularly be $300.
We also paid cash and direct, but wished we knew about resale. It will be resale for any major purchase. The point reallocation in October and early November (our bdays and anniversary) isn't helping matters, but we are still coming out ahead. We almost locked in current prices for decades.
We bought direct, OKW (for the contract time, room size for the studio and price per point for our budget). We initially didn’t buy enough direct for the blue card, but added on once we had the funds....however...we’ve not stayed there yet....our welcome home trip was the Poly and we are staying at the poly again this summer. My goal is to get a poly resale contract one day 😂😬
Poly is one of the ones I haven't stayed at yet! I've stayed in the regular rooms there but not the villas. How wonderful!
Yay! A long Friday video from Jen!! Love it!
I know it's been a long time, but I would love to hear your thoughts about off property and why it wasn't for you! We are staying on property next trip but considering the off property route for 22 or 23.
First time watching your channel. I love you!!! Very informative and you are so enthusiastic. In the UK and thinking of buying DVC going to watch all your vlogs
Jen if you let your AP expire during Covid you can get it reinstated. Call guest services and they can put in your request. You won't get a renewal discount but your pass won't start until your first use date.
Yeah I’m actually good without it for now. I though of calling but the wait times have been atrocious.
5:10 here's my nutshell version after crunching numbers. Worth it for a couple if you're deluxe travellers going annually, or you're moderates who want to bank/borrow points and go every second year or so. If the pair of you are content at Caribbean Beach or Pop Century for a week every year, savings aren't there. (ETA: I'm in Canada, so I have to factor very expensive flights into my numbers as well... that makes a big difference versus being able to drive a couple hours :))
You're not wrong, Carrie!
Hi Carrie. Fellow Canuck here. Our saving grace is we live near the border - drive over and fly cheaply out of U.S. They also have much better service then our airlines. Sad but true.
@@marybiggs6233 we're a bit too far from the border for that, but we do always fly Delta! It's cheaper that AC/WJ and like you said, much better service!
Love this info!! 💙
We originally bought 75 points at Copper Creek... Withing 8 months, we realized that was not enough for what we do.
We ended up adding another 50 for the same UY.
I only wish we looked closer at our options closer.
That said, we want more points.
That said, we are a couple without kids...
Right now DVC doesn’t make sense for us. I LOVE that you are honest that it isn’t for everyone. As my boys get older (and bigger!) and my mom retires soon I can see DVC being something to look into.
I think it’s helpful that I don’t have a dog in the fight - I don’t make commission, nobody is paying me to say anything. So you get my totally honest opinion! And yes, my parents getting older definitely pushed us into the “makes sense” column and we’ve enjoyed many trips with my mom!!
Well said.
I purchased my first contract resale because I wanted Grand Californian. Zero regrets. The "perks" that I lost are minimally valuable since I don't go to Florida, and the shopping discounts I get via the Disney Visa. Do to the limited number of rooms at Grand Californian, my points are worth more than I paid for them even many years later, and I can rent them at a significant premium because it is such a limited resort. The question to buy direct or resale is an extreme "it depends". There is no one answer, it really depends on how much you want to spend, what home resort you're looking at, if you want a 50yr vs 20yr contract, and so much more. However, in nearly every case I would say this shouldn't be a rushed decision/purchase. Don't get swept up in the "instant gratification" of purchasing direct and lose sight of the pros/cons of each. Even if you decide to purchase direct, if you want a specific resort and number of points, you may still have to wait for them to come available.
When you told the story of zoelle, I thought of my parents neighbors. They didn’t buy dvc ( they don’t even know what that is), but I thought of a family trip they went on in 2015 or 2016. It was their 50th wedding anniversary and they treated the family to 15 days in Disney. Them, their 4 children + the spouses, grandchildren as well as a favorite niece with her husband and children...I think it was about 26 people in total. They paid around 75 THOUSAND euros for the whole package. Man, I wish they could have adopted me for the month. It would have come out better getting dvc
Our story is very similar to Zoelle’s. I’ll share it with you sometime.
I’ve watched Karen’s vids and they’re really helpful too. Given that she helped with the numbers, can you sing in a Disney Princess voice in the next vid as per your comment at 30:30 in this?! 😂😂
Off to look at Patreon now...
Great info!
Jen, I also let my annual pass expire since I wasn’t sure how long we would be in the “great unpleasantness”. I guess that was a big mistake now that they aren’t letting anyone buy a pass and there are no answers as to when that might change. I’m assuming obviously that you’ll have to buy park tickets for your upcoming trip and I wonder if Disney doesn’t bring back the option to buy passes again in the next year or two would you then reconsider keeping your dvc membership?
Hi again. Question: with 1 contract through WDW and 1 resale, Do you book 2 separate back to back reservations? Or do they have your name linked to all your different points and just make 1 reservation. Thanks. You are Awesome ☺️
I really enjoy your videos and your DVC videos are full of simple to understand info, but I do have 2 questions. In the example you used of a trip in Aug that needs to be rescheduled (use year is Sept) are the points not able to be banked at the time of cancellation? Conversely, if you're booking before use year points are valid and with zero points currently in your "bucket" can you still book - said differently, do you have to have points to book, or just have to have the available points effective the day of arrival? Thanks!
Are you paying taxes and monthly payments? You say dues, can you explain more? Thanks for all your information.
You are so good at explaining the maze that is DVC! :-) You just made me actually wanna buy DVC.... if it weren't for the Great Unpleasantness, I would be picking up my calculator and try to do some math(hate math...KAREEEEEEENNNN HELP! haha :-))
Meanwhile: yes please, can you sing me a calming Disney song ? :-)
WHOOHOOO I adore DVC content!
Well that’s a win win, Chevonne, because I love making it!😍
Hello Jen, just subscribed. My wife and I are recent retirees and looking into DVC for ourselves and to pass on to our grown children. If we wanted to travel in October and the first week of February when should our use year be. Thanks for the excellent information that you provide on your channel.
Funny thing- our anniversary is October and we usually go to WL the first week in February and are considering Oct. too. I noticed the point chart this year shows that going one week earlier is a lower point category. (1-2 months before is good use year, so Aug or Sept we feel will cover either possibility in case of cancellation).
Thank You, That makes sense and simplifies it.
SO, regarding "home resorts": Are you allowed to CHANGE your home resort? Or, do you have to sell your entire contract and start over? ALSO - are any DVC properties "sold out" (as in, not allowing any additional sales as a "home resort?")
Yes, several properties are technically sold out but members still sell their original contracts so that doesn't mean you can't buy them. And no you cannot change your home resort so you'd have to sell and re-purchase if you decided you wanted a different home resort. Great questions!
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH @@JenLefforge! You are CALLED to do what you do. I absolutely LOVE your spirit and we've learned a LOT from you. We are deeply grateful!
My in-laws bought into DVC in the early years. Because the Boardwalk was brand-spankin' new (at the time), we encouraged them to buy in with the Boardwalk as their home resort... At the time, "pool hopping" was a perk/privilege of DVC and we loved visiting all of the various resort pools. Now (if I'm not mistaken), pool-hopping between DVC resorts is no longer allowed. Is that accurate?
@@jogray7994 It's suspended at the moment due to covid but it's still allowed! Just not to Stormalong Bay, the Bay Lake Tower Pool and the big pool at Jambo House!
I love Karen and her channel.
I’ve noticed that 1 bedrooms tend to also be 1 bed and a pull out as well. With the exception that the pull out couch is in another room. Are there any besides Riviera that aren’t?
The one bedroom units all have a "master bedroom" with a king size bed and then the family room will have a pull out (or pull down as in Riviera). The two bedrooms have a bed and a pull out in the second bedroom with the exception of OKW which always has two beds in the second bedroom. Hope that helps!
@@JenLefforge Thank you so much! Love your channels ❤️
My question is this.. if you can buy discounted DVC points and stay on property by doing so, why would you commit to a DVC contract at what seems like a much higher price and commitment?
My answer to that is quite simple: rental prices will continue to rise and also there is no guarantee of availability. With my own contract, although not guaranteed, I can typically get exactly what I want (at the 11 month mark) and I am in the driver's seat - I can change, modify or cancel. I don't like renting points for the simple fact that it's very difficult to change or modify a reservation and there's never a guarantee that what you want for your trip will line up exactly with the owners that are renting their points.
Oh also my annual dues are still far less than the cost of renting the points for the same trip.
Thanks!! Very helpful
The washer and dryer is a game changer - the level of stress it relieves from me is unmatched.
What? So close to 20k!
I know it’s crazy right???
Enjoyed the video, but do not understand the logic that Studio people should not buy DVC, especially when mentioning the prices of rooms at Disney keep going up.
For the price we bought our resale contract, a week at our home resort (BWV) is not that much more than a week in a preferred at Pop Century (and definitely less than any Moderate) even after usual discounts, but maybe I'm missing something.
If you factored in the cost of your initial buy-in for your calculations and the math checks out for you that's wonderful!
(If you answered this previously, My apologies & Can you send me the video link or answer below)
I know one can pay off their points balance with a Disney gift card, but do you know if yearly maintenance fees can also be paid, either in whole or in part, with Disney gift cards?
That’s an easy one because I just did this: YES YOU CAN! You can also pay them with the rewards many of us get with our Disney Visa from Chase!
@@JenLefforge a big thank you from Canada! :)
Dream....BWV, September or August use year. Yes, please. Hold up, I missed the most important video ever....convincing the spouse....! Never happen...🤣🤣
I mean, you never know??😂
Ok, my questions are specific and not answered:
1. Do you have to buy a 125 point single contract to get the blue card or can you do like 75 on one and a 50 point add on?
2. Can you buy resale and then get a direct add on?
Very good question! I’m also wondering what is the minimum points I have to buy if I buy direct?
@@lmperez1665 I know it is 125 and I think someone said it has to be all at the same resort but I just wanted to make sure. Since we don’t need season passes now (and couldn’t get them anyway) it doesn’t matter but in the future we will probably use the benefits.
Inflation on hotel prices? Let’s talk inflation on everything. I was cleaning the other day and found my photo album from my 1999 trip to WDW. 4 days of tickets with no hopping = $175. Parking was $5 a day. Compare to today. I feel like Bernie Sanders saying this but, no ones wages have gone up quite like Disney’s prices
Just realize that you wil pay more in annual dues that the purchase price.
100% true!
it worth it, you get your money back within 5 years and then you practically have 45 years of free rooms lol.
We need a handicapped room-I am handicapped and need a specializded with a roll-in shower.
I would call DVC directly about that! I know they must have ADA compliant rooms (per the law)
All your timestamps are screwed up! Thanks for the video tho!
Um sorry? Glad you enjoyed it despite it's flaws.