Disney adds time shares despite recession

It's not a matter of "lost" vs. "gained." Each person values the onsite experience differently, and for some, it's worth the extra expense. I'm not suggesting it's the "right" or "wrong" thing for anyone to do, and I wouldn't for a minute suggest that you should not have spent the extra money to buy DVC. It's your money, and it's only good for something if you spend it. We just happen to have chosen to spend ours differently.

But, people whose day jobs involve figuring out the costs of things will tell you that to truly compute the expense of owning DVC, you have to consder amortization, depreciation, and lost opportunity.

That said, with prices going where they are going, I keep coming back to the idea that maybe I ought to get a resale contract---I could get 160 at SSR right now for about $10K, and with banking and borrowing that would give me a week's stay every other year in the new Treehouse Villas, which look awesome.

Brian,

I'm not buying one--did you miss the part where I said I don't care for Disney?

If your reference to Amortization is in reference to the general loan (principle).. Thats an issue if you are still paying on it, or even had a loan for that matter. After that its purely the yearly maintenance fee, which does slowly go up, but not enough to even come close to surpassing cost difference of direct reservations of a deluxe resort.

At that point you take the fact the room costs have gone up yearly for deluxe resorts but the points for the rooms havent followed proportionally, in fact the point change has been much slower. So that in itself provides the needed "savings" per year that we "apply" to the initial investment.

As far as depreciation.. What doesnt depreciate in this world. Not a big concern of mine. Its not fast enough to be an issue really as Timeshares at Disney has been fairly popular and the resales now are still more than what we paid when we bought in. We paid about $54 per point.. Boarwalk now is $70+ per point. Mostly high because resale is the only way you can get that resort now.

Lastly its just the 1400 maint fee from now to 2042.. If we continue our trend of constant visits, the overall savings will have far exceeded the initial expense we put into it.

And to me, this is a lost vs gained factor in how we look at it in our personal situation.

did you miss the part

No, I didn't miss it. My reply was for exposition.

DVC seems like a complicated purchase, but the value proposition is simple. If you're the sort of person who plans to visit the Mouse at least semi-annually for the forseeable future, and would only consider staying in one of Disney's own resorts at the Moderate level or higher, DVC is probably a good idea.

If you visit less than once every two years, only go "for the kids", are willing to stay in a Value resort, or are willing to stay offiste, DVC is a bad idea.

ridem: I'm not going to argue with you. I've had this discussion with lots of other timeshare owners---all of whom are folks who are otherwise very well-educated---and I've never convinced one yet. It simply isn't worth my time. After all, I don't really care how you spend your money.

But, you are wrong to ignore the issue of opportunity cost. Plainly and simply. Ask anyone who works with money or real estate for a living.

Brian Noble said:
I've had this discussion with lots of other timeshare owners---all of whom are folks who are otherwise very well-educated---and I've never convinced one yet. It simply isn't worth my time.

Then why do you continue to try?? Just sayin' :) :)

And not arguing here..Im not trying to convince you of anything other than it works for me.. You cant debate my personal feeling. All Ive ever said.

EDIT: Personally removed remark to maintain the spirit of conversation.

I keep coming back to the idea that maybe I ought to get a resale contract

Looks like I get to put off thinking about this for another year. I just scored a 2BR at Beach Club Villas for UM's "spring" break in an exchange throug RCI. We've always been at Old Key West for our previous onsite stays---the BCV units are smaller and seem a little less functional, but they are right next to Epcot's back entrance. Should be a good time---I'm geeked!

Nice.. Enjoy.. I know what you mean since we are loaded up with Boardwalk points. Similar walk into the International Gateway (back) entrance.

We decided to try out Saratoga since thats the last resort we havent done yet this August for my birthday. Even though its far from the parks its nice to finally check off that we have stayed in every currently operating Disney Resort.

For whatever reason, Saratoga just never has captured our attention. I passed on a 2BR that was available there for my dates about six weeks ago. I'm not sure if it's just because the landscaping hasn't really grown in yet, or the theme, or what. I think if we were going without the kids, the proxmity to DTD would be more interesting. Everyone I know who has stayed there has loved it.